tortilla

noun

tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-yə How to pronounce tortilla (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pile onto a large whole grain flour tortilla and wrap. Katie Sullivan Morford, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2025 It can also be used to steam vegetables or dumplings or to warm tortillas. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 July 2025 Serve the steak warm with peppers, onions and warm tortillas. Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 14 July 2025 Top with 2 tablespoons of mushroom-onion mixture, and fold tortilla in half. Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tortilla

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tortilla was in 1648

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Cite this Entry

“Tortilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortilla. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

tortilla

noun
tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-(y)ə How to pronounce tortilla (audio)
: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread
Etymology

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

More from Merriam-Webster on tortilla

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