torta

noun

tor·​ta ˈtȯr-tə How to pronounce torta (audio)
plural tortas
: a traditional Mexican sandwich typically consisting of meat, cheese, and assorted toppings (such as lettuce, avocado, and refried beans) in a soft split roll
Turkey tortas—sandwiches stacked with oven-baked or slow-fried turkey—are immensely popular in the Downtown Historic Centre, and elsewhere around Mexico City.Lesley Téllez
Heat a … grill to medium high. Place half of each roll (what will become the bottom half of each torta) cut side down.Bill Esparza
Once the carne asada is done, stuff it into tacos, burritos or tortas or serve with salad or rice and beans.Genevieve Ko
… the best thing on the menu might be this gut-busting carnitas torta, a sandwich best split with a friend or ordered when you've got an especially large appetite.Luke Tsai

Examples of torta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The restaurant offers Michoacán-style birria de res in various forms, including tacos, ramen and tortas. Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024 Today, the menu has expanded to include tortas, burritos, nachos and fillings like lobster, filet mignon and yams with wild rice. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2024 Dessert is a choice of a chocolate torta or ricotta cheesecake. Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024 This makes a phenomenal condiment for tacos, tortas or tostadas, or to eat as a spicy pico de gallo. Pati Jinich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2024 These days, the family sells tortas with chilaquiles to scores of office workers daily, some of whom stand in line for more than an hour and buy the tortas in bulk to take back and share with colleagues. Jorge Valencia Mariano Fernandez, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023 Tacos are 17 pesos each, sandwiches (tortas) stuffed with lechón are 40 pesos apiece. Elisabeth Malkin, New York Times, 23 Nov. 2023 The menu features comforting classics like tortas, tostadas, and tacos, and the portions are ample. Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 28 Nov. 2023 All of these join other outstanding openings in the East Bay, including the latest from a world-champion pizza maker and a new Concord hot spot for Guadalajara-style tortas. Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'torta.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Mexican Spanish, from Spanish, "cake, pastry," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf" — more at tart entry 2

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of torta was in 1952

Dictionary Entries Near torta

Cite this Entry

“Torta.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torta. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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