chia

noun

ˈchē-ə 

plural 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

Seeds, especially pumpkin and chia, are easy to sprinkle into salads or roasted vegetable dishes for an extra boost of protein. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Nov. 2025

Apple paste, melon, mango, and pineapple are dotted with almonds, chia seeds, and puffed quinoa for a chewy, fruity bite with a surprising crunch. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Nov. 2025

Plus, a single one-ounce serving of dry chia seeds packs nearly 10 grams of fiber—and high fiber consumption has long been associated with reductions in LDL cholesterol and even blood pressure. —Cheyenne Buckingham, SELF, 21 Nov. 2025

Zen smoothie: Combine one cup of unsweetened almond milk with half a banana and 2 tbsp of raw cocoa (100% cocoa), and 2 tbsp chia seeds previously soaked for 10 minutes in almond milk. —Marie Bladt, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish chía, from Nahuatl chía, chian, from Maya chiháan "strong, strengthening"

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for chia

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea