Yam

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

·add. ·noun Any one of several cultural varieties of the sweet potato.

II. Yam ·noun A large, esculent, farinaceous tuber of various climbing plants of the genus Dioscorea; also, the plants themselves. Mostly natives of warm climates. The plants have netted-veined, petioled leaves, and pods with three broad wings. The commonest species is D. sativa, but several others are cultivated.