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

Chicken and pasta make the best dinnertime duo, and this recipe is so reliable many readers make it every single week. —Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025

In a viral Reddit post, a naughty cat dipped his paws in pasta sauce turning his fur orange—now the stains won’t go away. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

The restaurant is offering 50% off its cheese wheel pasta during happy hour. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025

There’s protein pastas, protein cereals, protein sodas, and even Starbucks protein cold foam. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025

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