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

Shake well, then pour over the pasta and toss until evenly coated. —Laura McLively, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026

The other dish to try here is the busiate (also cooked with seafood), a pasta which derives its name from its preparation technique. —Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026

Is your favorite food still pasta, pasta, and more pasta? —Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026

Everything's better with bacon, especially this easy pasta dish ribboned with hardy winter collards. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 11 Jan. 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