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

This bright green blender pasta sauce is super easy to prep ahead! — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026

Combine your favorite pasta with green peas, beans, and a light lemon sauce for a spring pasta salad. — Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026

Adding non-starchy vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats to pasta salad or potato salad can reduce their glycemic impact. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 6 July 2026

The cacio e pepe pasta transports me to my favorite trattoria in Rome and the pan-roasted Chilean sea bass tastes like it was just fished out of the sea. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 4 July 2026

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