mesquite

noun

mes·quite | \mə-ˈskēt,

me-\

Definition of mesquite

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

Mesquite

geographical name

Mes·quite | \mə-ˈskēt,

me-\

Definition of Mesquite (Entry 2 of 2)

city in northeastern Texas east of Dallas population 139,824

Examples of mesquite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

This day, Hurley is simply walking, making his way past the saguaros and mesquite, a route that will take nearly two hours in what will become another 100-degree afternoon. — Doug Haller, azcentral, "ASU basketball's Bobby Hurley finds a home in the Arizona desert," 9 July 2018 The meat is either cooked on a flat-top griddle or charbroiled over mesquite (my favorite). — Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "Best burgers in the Bay Area from the 2018 Top 100 restaurants," 12 June 2018 The myriad shades of green of the mesquites and oaks and a scores of shrubs and grasses. — Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, "For hunters, South Texas colors a feast for the senses," 3 May 2018 Keegan instead uses mesquite, a hardwood tree that can grow throughout the dry Southwest due to its unique dual root system: a deep tap that draws subsurface moisture, and a sprawling lateral network that picks up slight rainfall. — Francine Maroukian, Popular Mechanics, "Americans Are Making Great Single-Malt Whiskey Now," 19 May 2018 The smuggler escaped back to Mexico on a dirt road surrounded on both sides by a lush landscape of mesquite trees and thorny brush. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, "US border agent chases people smuggler back into river near Texas in dramatic video," 27 June 2018 In the high desert east of this border town, the rolling hills topped with mesquite and paloverde trees are a picture of rugged desolation. — Richard Marosi, latimes.com, "Towers and cameras, not a wall, keep migrants from crossing the border into Arizona," 16 Apr. 2018 The smuggler escaped back to Mexico on a dirt road surrounded on both sides by a lush landscape of mesquite trees and thorny brush. — Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, "US border agent chases people smuggler back into river near Texas in dramatic video," 27 June 2018 Sauce: Thin, sweet and vinegary, the barbecue sauce sharpens the mesquite’s aggressive edge. — Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "52 Weeks of BBQ: The Smokehouse," 23 Mar. 2018

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

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2 Oct 2018

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The first known use of mesquite was in 1759

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More Definitions for mesquite

mesquite

noun

English Language Learners Definition of mesquite

: a tree or bush that grows in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico and that has a hard wood which is often used in grilling food because of the special flavor produced by its smoke; also : the wood of the mesquite

See the full definition for mesquite in the English Language Learners Dictionary

mesquite

noun

mes·quite | \mə-ˈskēt