cashew

American  

[kash-oo, kuh-shoo] / ˈkæʃ u, kəˈʃu /

noun

1. a tree, Anacardium occidentale, native to tropical America, having milky juice, simple, leathery leaves, and yellowish-pink flowers in open clusters.

2. Also called cashew nut.  the small, kidney-shaped, edible nut of this tree.

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cashew British  

/ kæˈʃuː, ˈkæʃuː /

noun

1. a tropical American anacardiaceous evergreen tree, Anacardium occidentale, bearing kidney-shaped nuts that protrude from a fleshy receptacle

2. Also called: cashew nut.  the edible nut of this tree

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Usage

What does cashew mean? A cashew is an evergreen tree native to the tropical areas of the Americas, as in I took a nap under the shady cashew. The kidney-shaped seed found in the fruit of this tree is also called a cashew, or a cashew nut, as in Chang makes a tasty stir-fry using chicken and cashews. Because most people aren’t botanists or tropical tree growers, you’ll see cashew usually used to mean the seeds rather than the tree. If both items are being discussed, you’ll see references to “cashew trees” and “cashew nuts.”Although they are often referred to as nuts, cashews are actually the seeds found inside of the cashew apples that grow on cashew trees. Example: Roland ate so many cashews as a snack that he didn’t want supper. 

Etymology

Origin of cashew

1695–1705; < Portuguese cajú, aphetic variant of acajú < Tupi akaʾiu

Explanation

A cashew is a bushy tree that grows cashew nuts. Roasted, salted cashews make a great snack. While cashews are always categorized with other nuts, they are officially a seed, the size and shape of a kidney bean. Cashew trees are native to Brazil, but they were long ago introduced to India, and cashews are a common ingredient in many South Asian dishes. Cashew is a shortened form of the French acajou, from the Tupi name for the cashew tree, acajuba.

Example Sentences

And the industry in general seems reluctant to adopt such “artisanal pizzeria” innovations as lavender-flavored pizza, honey-drenched pizza or vegan pizza made with cashew ricotta.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

The exemptions covered other Ghanaian agricultural products including cashew nuts, avocados, bananas, mangoes, plantain, pineapples, coconuts, ginger and peppers, he said.

From Barron's • Nov. 24, 2025

Ghana is the world's third-biggest exporter of unprocessed cashew nuts, behind Ivory Coast in first place, and Cambodia in second.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2025

The inside has a cashew mixture, which is savory, and on top is edible silver.

From Salon • Nov. 9, 2024

The new house was surrounded by cashew trees.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie