açaí palm

a·ça·í palm

(ä-sä-ē′) or as·sai palm (ä-sī′)

n.

1. A tall slender palm (Euterpe oleracea) found in coastal and lowland regions in northern South America. It is harvested for hearts of palm, and its small purple fruits are processed into juice and nutritional supplements.

2. Any of several other South American palms of the genus Euterpe.

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[Portuguese açaí, from Tupí *ïwasai.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.