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

From the pasta to the ice cream and bread, everything served at the restaurant is made in-house, from scratch. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Apr. 2026

Pasta Therapy’s fusilli, campanelle and radiatori pasta shapes could earn the business its first-ever Good Food Awards in June. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 20 Apr. 2026

From hearty casseroles to light pasta salads, these are the most popular pea recipes among BHG readers. —Lizzy Briskin, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 2026

For such people, a seemingly harmless bite of bread, pasta, or even a sauce thickened behind the scenes can trigger bloating, fatigue or lingering digestive distress. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 Apr. 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