mesquite

noun

mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

: any of several spiny leguminous trees or shrubs (genus Prosopis and especially P. glandulosa) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. that often form extensive thickets and have sweet pods eaten by livestock

also : the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food

Illustration of mesquite

• 1 flower and leaves
• 2 pod

Examples of mesquite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Typically, the shorter and wider the tree (such as mesquites, oaks and pines), the more the water needs to be administered around the canopy, as the roots near the trunk do not take up as much water. —Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024

Plazas and courtyards contain feathery mesquite and blue-green palo verde trees and employ brickwork that blends with the buildings themselves. —Sam Lubell, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Nahuatl mizquitl

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mesquite

noun

mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

: a thorny deep-rooted tree or shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that belongs to the legume family, produces pods rich in sugar, and is important as food for livestock

also : the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food

Geographical Definition

Mesquite

geographical name

Mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

city in northeastern Texas east of Dallas population 139,824