chia

noun

\ ˈchē-ə

plural chia

Definition of chia

1 : an annual herb (Salvia hispanica) of the mint family that is native to Mexico and Guatemala, has spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers, and is grown for its grayish, edible, mucilaginous seeds which are eaten whole or used especially to make a beverage or oil … to develop, test and grow new cultivars of chia that are able to produce seed in the cooler climate of the Upper South and Midwest, with the potential to increase production of this crop with a traceable domestic supply.— Susan Smith-Durisek also : any of several related salvias (especially Salvia columbariae) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico

2 or chia seed : the seed of a chia When mixed with water, the fiber in chia forms a gel that lowers cholesterol and keeps blood sugar stable.— Jane E. Brody Chia seeds are tiny and have a very mild taste, making them easy to add to all kinds of foods to boost nutrition.— Megan Murphy

Examples of chia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Flax seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts and their oils, as well as chia seeds are especially good sources. — Ellie Krieger, The Seattle Times, "How to fight dry winter skin from the inside out," 5 Feb. 2019 While all fiber is good, here are some great prebiotic fiber sources: Jerusalem artichokes, onions, garlic, and leeks, as well as chia seeds, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds. — Liz Krieger, Harper's BAZAAR, "The New Way to Lose Weight Involves Healing Your Gut," 26 June 2017 Gluten-free options include homemade granola with yogurt and fruit and a berry chia pudding with quinoa and nut butter muesli. — Karin Eldor, Condé Nast Traveler, "10 Best Brunches in Montreal," 6 Aug. 2018 The dinner menu highlights several salads including greens from the garden paired with blueberries and pistachio ($11); watermelon and first-of-the-season tomatoes with queso fresco, chia seeds and avocado ($14). — Michael Bauer, SFChronicle.com, "Stem Kitchen and Garden in Mission Bay: Go before it’s ‘discovered’," 12 July 2018 New lines have interesting mixes of fruit and nuts, and some producers are experimenting with millennial-friendly additions like probiotics and chia seeds. — Kim Severson, New York Times, "Is America Ready to Love Cottage Cheese Again?," 26 June 2018 Homemade chocolate mousse Post race dessert fruits with a little homemade chocolate mouse and some chia seeds and coconut flakes! — Michelle R. Martinelli, For The Win, "Danica Patrick shares her favorite dessert recipes, plus which one Aaron Rodgers loves," 21 June 2018 Superfoods Blueberries, kale, spinach, salmon, quinoa, broccoli, chia seeds and goji berries are just a few nutrient-rich foods that help people stay healthy and feel good. — Jackie Pilossoph, chicagotribune.com, "15 material and nonmaterial self-confidence boosters," 20 June 2018 Raw Strawberry Matcha Oatmeal 3/4 cup raw oats 1 tablespoon chia seeds 1 tablespoon flax seeds 1 cup nut milk (your choice on type) 1/3 teaspoon Healing Butterfly Matcha Green Tea Powder Fresh strawberries to taste Agave or maple syrup to taste 1. — Lauren Delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Healing Butterfly spices up matcha with tasty flavors," 4 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chia.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.