noun
coca
KOH-kuh/ˈkoʊkə/
A South American shrub valued for its stimulant leaves.
The coca shrub grows on the hillside.
Etymology
Quechua cuca names the plant itself; the English term covers both the shrub and its harvested leaves. The name may ultimately be Aymara.
In context
products made from the coca leaf
had been chewing coca leaf as a mild stimulant
More examples
- The account described traditional uses of coca leaves.
- Farmers harvested leaves from the coca plants.
- The researcher studied coca cultivation in the region.
Forms
coca · cocas
Similar words
- cocoa
- An unrelated word for a cacao product, easily confused in spelling.