[yam] n [earlier iname, fr. Pg inhame & Sp name, of African origin; akin to Fulani nyami to eat] (1657) 1: the edible starchy tuberous root of various plants (genus Dioscorea of the family Dioscoreaceae) used as a staple food in tropical areas; also: a plant producing yams
2: a moist-fleshed and usu. orange-fleshed sweet potato