pasta

noun

pas·​ta ˈpä-stə 

also

ˈpa- 

1

: paste in processed form (such as macaroni) or in the form of fresh dough (such as ravioli)

2

: a dish of cooked pasta

Examples of pasta in a Sentence

They ordered pasta with meat sauce.

Breads and pastas are high in carbohydrates.

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to a bagel shop, the initial vision also involved high-end, new-style Italian food — pasta made by hand, a restaurant where chefs cooked in front of people. —Gabby Debenedictis, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2025

There are pastas, Black Angus meatballs, salads and crispy calamari. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

The local seafood spot, established in 1998, has long since been a popular spot for seafood classics like crab cakes, fish sandwiches and its award-winning chowder, along with pastas, flatbreads and salads, which can also be served in kid-sized portions. —Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2025

There is less clumping with water containing a little starch, like water in which pasta has been cooked. —ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Late Latin

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pasta

• angel-hair pasta
• pasta cooker

Rhymes for pasta

• jocasta

Kids Definition

pasta

noun

pas·​ta ˈpäs-tə 

1

: a dough of flour, eggs, and water made in different shapes and dried (as spaghetti or macaroni) or used fresh (as ravioli)

2

: a dish of cooked pasta