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

The dish is built on bite-sized pasta shells bathed in North Carolina miso mornay and topped with miso cream. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026

Drolet sees opportunities to use them in dips and even pasta sauce — like swapping out heavy cream for the Mike’s Hot Honey cream cheese in a Bolognese. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026

Fresh pasta made daily, like spaghetti with Burgundy truffles, cultured butter and parmigiano espuma or paccheri al Campagnolo with Maine lobster, tomatoes, capers and olives. — Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Bright, contemporary interiors provide the backdrop for handmade pasta, excellent pizzas and generous Italian classics. — Vicki Power, TheWeek, 14 Sep. 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