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

Photo: David Clifford for The Wall Street Journal The Diet Ms. Deeley starts her day with hot cereal topped with coconut milk, berries, honey, and seeds including flax, pepitas and chia. — Jen Murphy, WSJ, "Her Exercise? Picking Up Everyone’s Litter," 19 Nov. 2018 Many were on hands and knees concentrating on that perfect shot of chia sage blossoms or colorful monkey flowers. — Ernie Cowan, sandiegouniontribune.com, "It's rattlesnake season in the county," 9 June 2018 The single-portion pouches are high in fiber, low in sugar, and filled with organic, gluten-free ingredients like beetroot powder, matcha green tea, and chia seeds. — Outside Online, "The Best Fuel of 2018," 15 May 2018 For the crackers: 1 cup chia seeds 2⁄3 cup raw, shelled, unsalted pumpkin seeds 1 cup water 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp. — Daniel Boulud, ELLE Decor, "Recipe: Pumpkin Soup With Asian Flair," 12 Oct. 2017 Remove from the heat, stir in the chia seeds, and allow the mixture to cool. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "Sakara Brings Healthy Eating Home With Their New Made-for-Instagram Cookbook," 19 Mar. 2019 Starting tomorrow, the superfood subscription service will add Summer Harvest Bowls to its roster—which has expanded to include the likes of chia parfaits and savory soups. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "5 New Healthy Meal-Delivery Programs, Just In Time for Summer," 11 July 2018 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

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.