Definition of "cacao" [ca•ca•o]

• An evergreen tropical American tree (Theobroma cacao) having leathery, ellipsoid, ten-ribbed fruits borne on the trunks and older branches. Also called chocolate tree. (noun)
• The seed of this plant, used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter. Also called cacao bean, cocoa bean. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "a brief survey of the history of cocoa and chocolate, I shall begin with the growing of the cacao bean, and follow the _cacao_ in its career until it becomes the finished product ready for consumption."
• "Vinson said chocolate was given the name cacao, meaning "food of the gods.""
• "After dinner a small piece of cheesecake made with real cacao is just perfect."