tortilla

noun

tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-yə 

: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread usually eaten hot with a topping or filling (as of ground meat or cheese)

Examples of tortilla in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Filled with beans, corn, tender chicken, tomato, and avocado, tortilla soup is guaranteed to please a crowd. —Phoebe Evans, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2025

Texas Tech recently banned the throwing of tortillas onto the field during kickoffs, a practice that stretches back decades. —Jordy Fee-Platt, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Serving their famous fried tacos with white corn tortilla, melted cheese, lettuce, and tomato. —Lori Punko, Denver Post, 25 Oct. 2025

Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said fans seen throwing a tortilla would have their ticket privileges revoked for the rest of the academic year at all Tech sporting events, the AP story noted. —Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from American Spanish (Mexico, Central America, parts of the Caribbean and South America), from Spanish, diminutive of torta "cake, pastry," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf of bread" — more at tart entry 2

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tortilla

• tortilla chip

Rhymes for tortilla

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea

Kids Definition

tortilla

noun

tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-(y)ə 

: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread

Etymology

American Spanish, literally "little cake," from Spanish torta "cake"