linguine

noun

lin·​gui·​ne liŋ-ˈgwē-nē 

variants or linguini

: narrow flat pasta

Did you know?

The modern language closest to Latin is Italian, and the Italian word linguine means literally "little tongues". Linguine is only one of the types of pasta whose names describes their shapes. Others include spaghetti ("little strings"), fettuccine ("little ribbons"), penne ("little quills"), orzo ("barley"), farfalle ("butterflies"), vermicelli ("little worms"), capellini ("little hairs"), fusilli ("little spindles"), and radiatori ("little radiators"). If you're thinking about learning Italian, you could make a good start by just visiting an Italian restaurant.

Examples of linguine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That said, healthy eating is not necessarily the name of this game: a dish of scampi-style scallop linguine included 4 Tbsp. —Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 4 Sep. 2024

Guests enjoyed Chatham cod, steak and lemon linguine during the reception, which took place beneath a tent lined with lights. —Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 24 July 2024

That said, healthy eating is not necessarily the name of this game: a dish of scampi-style scallop linguine included four tablespoons of butter for two portions and no vegetables save for a single shallot. —Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 25 June 2024

The summer menu is an ode to the season and includes a variety of crudos (tuna takaki, sea bass carpaccio with lemon, giant red shrimp) as well as crab salad, beef tartare, and lobster linguine. —Jade Simon, Vogue, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, plural of linguina, diminutive of lingua tongue, from Latin

First Known Use

circa 1948, in the meaning defined above