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

Add quesadilla to pan and cook 2-3 minutes until bottom of tortilla is browned. —Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 23 June 2025

The videos circulating on social media show a yellow delivery truck, back door open with crates of tortillas and produce neatly stacked on the ground. —Liz Baker, NPR, 21 June 2025

The tortilla had no flavor; the tostada which supposedly offers textural counterpoint — the whole idea, according to its advocates, like Times newsletter jefe Karim Doumar — was soggy. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025

The new items feature the same tortilla coating used on the brand’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets, which made their debut in December. —Erin Clements, People.com, 17 June 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"