sweet potato

noun

1. a plant, Ipomoea batatas, of the morning glory family, grown for its sweet, edible, tuberous roots.

2. the root itself, used as a vegetable.

3. Informal.,  ocarina.

sweet potato

noun

1. a convolvulaceous twining plant, Ipomoea batatas, of tropical America, cultivated in the tropics for its edible fleshy yellow root

2. the root of this plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of sweet potato¹

An Americanism dating back to 1740–50

Example Sentences

“She noticed that a lot of locals were always asking her for ingredients like sweet potatoes and taro, so she started selling fruits and expanded to vegetables,” said Derek Luu, Tran’s son.

From Los Angeles Times

Rose McGee’s years-long relationship with buttery crusts and heavenly aromas began with an impulse one day one Sunday morning to make a sweet potato pie and a blackberry cobbler.

From Salon

The bite of raw carrot or a gossamer slice of fennel offers a freshness that roasted beets or steamed sweet potatoes simply can't match.

From Salon

Instead of plating a large piece of chicken with sweet potatoes and rice on the side, transform those same ingredients into a sweet potato risotto with chicken.

From Salon

I made homemade pesto pasta with salmon for dinner and a sweet potato hash topped with a runny egg for breakfast.

From Salon