taro Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants
    cocoyam; eddo; dasheen.
  2. noun herb of the Pacific islands grown throughout the tropics for its edible root and in temperate areas as an ornamental for its large glossy leaves
    Colocasia esculenta; taro plant; dalo; dasheen.
  3. noun tropical starchy tuberous root
    cocoyam; edda; dasheen; taro root.

WordNet

Ta"ro noun
Etymology
From the Polynesian name.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A name for several aroid plants (Colocasia antiquorum, var. esculenta, Colocasia macrorhiza, etc.), and their rootstocks. They have large ovate-sagittate leaves and large fleshy rootstocks, which are cooked and used for food in tropical countries.

Webster 1913