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Glite Dictionary
Theobroma cacao

Theobroma cacao

6.5
A tropical tree whose seeds, called cacao beans, people use to make chocolate and cocoa
  • noun
  • /θiˈoʊbroʊmə kəˈkaʊ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Theobroma cacao
  • The beans of the Theobroma cacao are the primary source of chocolate.

Examples

  • The Theobroma cacao thrives best in warm, humid climates near the equator.

  • Farmers in West Africa now cultivate Theobroma cacao on a large scale for export.

  • The Theobroma cacao tree thrives in humid tropical climates.

  • Many people enjoy chocolate made from Theobroma cacao beans.

  • Farmers in West Africa now cultivate Theobroma cacao on a large scale for export.

  • The Theobroma cacao tree thrives best in warm, humid climates near the equator.

  • The beans of the Theobroma cacao are the primary source of chocolate.

Synonyms

cacao
vsTheobroma cacao
10 4.6

A tropical tree that produces seeds used to make chocolate

has the same meaning but is the scientific name for the tree
cacao tree
vsTheobroma cacao
1 3.5

A tropical tree that produces the beans used to make chocolate

is a more formal scientific label rather than the common term
chocolate tree
vsTheobroma cacao
3.9

A tropical tree that produces cocoa beans used to make chocolate

is the precise botanical species name not a product focused common term

Surface Forms

Theobroma cacao singular
Theobroma cacaos plural

Morphology

Theobroma + cacao

This is a literal scientific binomial combining the genus name Theobroma (trees whose seeds yield chocolate) with the species name cacao (the tree that yields seeds used for cocoa). If a learner knows both constituent meanings, they can directly infer that Theobroma cacao refers to the cacao tree whose seeds are used to make cocoa/chocolate; the construction is compositional and behaves like a straightforward taxonomic name.

Etymology

Theobroma cacao comes from the Greek words theo and broma, which together mean 'food of the gods'. Because the tree's beans make chocolate, the name gives a clear image: this plant produces a rich, special food.