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

Menu items will be prepared using live-fire techniques over mesquite and charcoal. — Sonia Garcia, Houston Chronicle, 26 Jan. 2026

Native trees like palo verde, ironwood and mesquite provide valuable shade from the sun’s harsh rays for plants growing below. — John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026

The meeting place looks much like any other expanse of road in the Sonoran desert, dusty taupe with various cacti and mesquite trees. — Von Diaz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Dec. 2025

Gelineau said the idea for mesquite partly grew out of earlier internal conversations about agave spirits. — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 9 Mar. 2026

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