mesquite

noun

mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

: any of several spiny leguminous trees or shrubs (genus Prosopis and especially P. glandulosa) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. that often form extensive thickets and have sweet pods eaten by livestock

also : the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food

Illustration of mesquite

• 1 flower and leaves
• 2 pod

Examples of mesquite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Common edible plants in Arizona include prickly pear, saguaro fruit, and mesquite pods, but many native plants are protected. —Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 19 Sep. 2025

As more and more birders gathered to see the bird, the animal became more reclusive and hid in a mesquite thicket. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025

Streetlights stand where once there were oaks and mesquites. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025

The beef and chicken kabob skewers were juicy and bursting with herb and spice flavors, such as onion, garlic, parsley, cumin, coriander, and paprika, with a mesquite finish. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Nahuatl mizquitl

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mesquite

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

mesquite

noun

mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

: a thorny deep-rooted tree or shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that belongs to the legume family, produces pods rich in sugar, and is important as food for livestock

also : the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food

Geographical Definition

Mesquite

geographical name

Mes·​quite mə-ˈskēt 

me-

city in northeastern Texas east of Dallas population 139,824