cocoa
UK: ˈkəʊ.kəʊ | US: ˈkoʊ.koʊ
n. a powder made from roasted and ground cacao seeds, used to make chocolate
n. a hot drink made by mixing cocoa powder with milk or water
n. a light brown color resembling the powder
The word "cocoa" originated from a Spanish misinterpretation of the Nahuatl (Aztec) word cacahuatl, referring to the cacao bean. Over time, the Spanish spelling evolved from "cacao" to "cocoa" due to phonetic confusion. The English term further simplified it, dropping the final "a" and standardizing the spelling. Despite the shift, the core meaning—linked to the cacao plant and its products—remained intact.
She stirred a spoonful of cocoa into her warm milk.
The bakery specializes in desserts made with organic cocoa.
His favorite winter treat was a mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows.
The walls were painted a soothing shade of cocoa brown.
Cocoa production is vital to the economy of several West African countries.