to|bac|co

to|bac|co «tuh BAK oh», noun, plural -cos or -coes.

1. a) the prepared leaves of certain plants, used for smoking or chewing or as snuff. b) one of these plants. Tobacco is native to tropical America and is now widely grown in many parts of the world. It belongs to the nightshade family.

2. things made from or containing these leaves, such as cigars and cigarettes: »

That shop sells all kinds of tobacco.

3. the smoking of a pipe, cigars, or cigarettes, or the chewing of tobacco leaves: »

He gave up tobacco for the sake of his children.

╂[alteration of earlier tabaco < Spanish < Arawak (Haiti) tabako a Y-shaped pipe for inhaling smoke through the nostrils; also, a small cigar of rolled tobacco leaves]