cocoa

/ˌkoʊˈkoʊ/

/ˈkʌʊkə/

Other forms: cocoas

The dark, chocolate-brown powder you use to make brownies or devil's food cake is called cocoa. Cocoa consists of finely ground roasted cacao beans.

You can use cocoa to make many chocolate treats, including pudding, cake, cookies, and hot chocolate — which is also called cocoa. Although cocoa powder smells delicious, it has to be mixed with sugar or some other sweetener for it to taste good. When the word cocoa was first used in the early 18th century, it was based on a mistake, mixing up the letters of cacao, the seed that's used to make cocoa.

Definitions of cocoa

1. noun

   powder of ground roasted cacao beans with most of the fat removed
   types:

   criollo

   cocoa of superior quality

   type of:

   food product, foodstuff

   a substance that can be used or prepared for use as food
2. noun

   a beverage made from cocoa powder and milk and sugar; usually drunk hot
   synonyms: chocolate, drinking chocolate, hot chocolate

   type of:

   beverage, drink, drinkable, potable

   any liquid suitable for drinking