TAPIOCA (a native Brazilian word)  , a farinaceous food sub-stance prepared from cassava starch, the product of the large tuberous roots of the cassava or manioc plant (see CASSAVA) . Cassava starch, separated from the fibrous and nitrogenous constituents of the roots, is spread, while in a moist condition, upon iron plates, and with constant stirring exposed to such heat as causes a partial rupture of the starch granules, which agglomerate into irregular pellets, becoming hard and trans-lucent when cooled . In this condition the starch forms the tapioca of commerce, a light, pleasant and digestible food, much used in puddings and as a thickener for soups .