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 contamination was discovered when one of the producing companies collected samples of the pre-cooked pasta in part of the ongoing investigation, per the FSIS. —Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025

What chicken alfredo pasta dishes are involved in this? —David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025

Add roasted cubes of squash to salads, pizzas, pasta dishes, or our Million Dollar Soup. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025

Federal health officials are warning consumers not to eat certain heat-and-eat beef meatball pasta meals sold at Walmart stores because they may be contaminated with listeria bacteria previously linked to a deadly outbreak. —Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 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