coca: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialist, Formal, Academic, Technical (Botany, Pharmacology, History)
Quick answer
What does “coca” mean?
A tropical shrub native to South America, the dried leaves of which are the source of cocaine and are chewed as a mild stimulant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tropical shrub native to South America, the dried leaves of which are the source of cocaine and are chewed as a mild stimulant.
Any plant of the genus Erythroxylum; by extension, a source or foundational element of a major product or phenomenon.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. Pronunciation and relative frequency of use may vary slightly.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of indigenous Andean culture, colonial history, and the modern drug trade. The context heavily determines the connotation.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general use, appearing primarily in historical, anthropological, or pharmacological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “coca” in a Sentence
cultivate/grow/cultivation of + cocachew + coca (leaves)the coca + noun (plant, leaf, bush)derived from/from the + coca plantVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coca” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The coca-based infusion is part of traditional rituals.
- A report on coca-growing areas was published.
American English
- The coca-derived alkaloid was isolated in the lab.
- They discussed coca-eradication policies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of agricultural commodities, international trade law, or reports on illicit drug economies.
Academic
Common in anthropology, history, pharmacology, and Latin American studies texts discussing indigenous practices or the political economy of drugs.
Everyday
Very rare. Most commonly encountered in news reports or documentaries about cocaine production.
Technical
Standard term in botany (genus Erythroxylum) and pharmacology for the source material of cocaine alkaloids.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coca”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coca”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coca”
- Using 'coca' to mean 'cocaine' (e.g., 'He was addicted to coca' is incorrect; use 'cocaine').
- Misspelling as 'coco' or 'cocoa' (which are entirely different words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Coca is the plant or its raw leaves. Cocaine is a powerful, refined alkaloid drug extracted and processed from those leaves.
In most countries, the import, sale, and possession of coca leaves (the raw material for cocaine) is illegal or highly restricted, with exceptions for some traditional uses in parts of South America.
Historically, yes. The original formula contained extracts from coca leaves. Modern Coca-Cola uses coca leaves that have been processed to remove the cocaine alkaloid for flavouring purposes only.
No. It is a specialist term. The average English speaker is far more likely to encounter and use the word 'cocaine'.
A tropical shrub native to South America, the dried leaves of which are the source of cocaine and are chewed as a mild stimulant.
Coca is usually specialist, formal, academic, technical (botany, pharmacology, history) in register.
Coca: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊ.kə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊ.kə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common English idioms directly with 'coca']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
COCA: the COra of the COCAine plant. Think of the Andes where it grows.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION/SOURCE (e.g., 'coca is the raw material of a global trade').
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'coca' most precisely and frequently used?