pasta

noun

pas·​ta ˈpä-stə 

also

ˈpa- 

1

: paste in processed form (such as macaroni) or in the form of fresh dough (such as ravioli)

2

: a dish of cooked pasta

Examples of pasta in a Sentence

They ordered pasta with meat sauce.

Breads and pastas are high in carbohydrates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Linguine Nerano This falls short in the way most Trader Joe’s frozen pastas do, resembling airline food when you’re blessed enough to have it. — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026

Tasting menu guests can expect six courses of heaven, filled with handcrafted pasta, fresh seafood and elevated entrees that with linger with you. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026

Atlanta has plenty of Italian restaurants, but a growing number are serving something different from the handmade pastas and modern Italian cooking that have defined much of the city’s dining scene. — Su-Jit Lin, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 2026

The menu will also feature two dishes which will rotate weekly, such as pasta Puttanesca and chicken piccata with mashed potatoes. — Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Late Latin

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pasta

• angel-hair pasta
• pasta cooker

Rhymes for pasta

• jocasta

Kids Definition

pasta

noun

pas·​ta ˈpäs-tə 

1

: a dough of flour, eggs, and water made in different shapes and dried (as spaghetti or macaroni) or used fresh (as ravioli)

2

: a dish of cooked pasta