rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryyamTropical tuber
noun

yam

YAM/jæm/

An edible starchy tuber of a tropical climbing plant.

The cut yam reveals dense white flesh beneath rough brown skin.

A true yam tuber with rough brown bark-like skin and a freshly cut end revealing dense white flesh, beside a matching whole tuber and a short leafy section of yam vine.
Etymology
yamPortugueseyam

Portuguese inhame is one possible source of this tuber’s name. English retained the food meaning, while in the southern United States the name was also transferred to a kind of sweet potato.

In context

Trans Models2:51
how come this look like yam but it tastes like pineapple
FED Talk and Trans Models

More examples

  • The farmer digs up yams beneath the climbing vines.
  • We boil chunks of yam until they are tender.
  • These yams have rough brown skin and starchy flesh.

Forms

yam · yams

Similar words

sweet potato
A different root vegetable, often sweeter and mislabeled as yam.
cassava
A starchy tropical root from a shrub, not a vine.