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

Pre-cooked links to fry up for dinner, breakfast patties, meatballs, a breakfast burrito, and in the spicy sauce of a new frozen pasta (above). —Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Feb. 2026

For fans of Cacio e Pepe, make scrambled eggs inspired by the Italian pasta. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026

Not cool enough, like about as cool as your grandpa’s beige Chrysler, were coleslaw, pasta salad and potato salad. —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026

The menu also includes deep-dish, pastas, sandwiches, appetizers, wings, salads and soup, as well as an extensive beer lineup. —Hannah Kirby, jsonline.com, 6 Feb. 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