Definition of "yam" in English

noun

1. Any climbing vine of the genus Dioscorea in the Eastern and Western hemispheres, usually cultivated.

2. The edible, starchy, tuberous root of that plant, a tropical staple food.

3. (US) A sweet potato; a tuber from the species Ipomoea batatas.

4. (Scotland) A potato.

5. (New Zealand) An oca; a tuber from the species Oxalis tuberosa.

6. (Malaysia, Singapore) Taro.

7. An orange-brown colour, like the flesh of the yam.

noun

1. (regional, Cumberland) Home.

verb

1. Pronunciation spelling of am.

verb

1. (UK, slang) To eat.

verb

1. (especially basketball) To dunk on; to beat humiliatingly.

   • For quotations using this term, see Citations:yam.