penne

noun pen·ne \ ˈpe(n)-(ˌ)nā \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of penne

plural penne

: short thick diagonally cut tubular pasta

Recent Examples of penne from the Web

Still, both performed better than a weak lettuce-fest of a Caesar salad and a bowl of rubbery penne pasta with equally rubbery meatballs in a leaden meat sauce.

— mike sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "Review: Pesto Ristorante a solid addition to Olmos Park," 29 Mar. 2018
Add 1 pound rigatoni, penne rigate or other ridged pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente.

— eleanore park, WSJ, "4 Spring Pasta Recipes: Make a Meal of the Season’s Freshest Produce," 27 Mar. 2018
Cutting back on toast, penne, rice-with-everything, and cocktails has been the painful part.

— lexi novak, Allure, "Here’s What’s Really Causing That Breakout on Your Chin," 25 Mar. 2018
But many smugglers diversify their load by pushing penne.

— The Economist, "Spaghetti smugglers of the Sahara," 15 Mar. 2018
The most famous dishes are the tender and giant meatballs, served as an appetizer; another starter, the cold seafood salad; lemon chicken; rich, creamy penne all vodka; and on-the-bone veal chop Milanese.

— larry olmsted, USA TODAY, "Great American restaurants where presidents have dined," 15 Feb. 2018
Get: Preferred Selection penne rigate, $1.29 for a 1-pound bag.

— kathleen purvis, charlotteobserver, "The 10 things you need to buy at Lidl | Charlotte Observer," 7 Feb. 2018
Guests including Selma Blair, Rachel Zoe, Samantha Ronson, and Ali Larter passed around bowls of penne pasta and meatballs while mingling in the restaurant’s cozy red leather booths.

— julia russo, Vogue, "Edie Parker Hosts a Los Angeles Dinner Benefiting the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund," 2 Feb. 2018
Bill and Oscar usually get burgers, and Luke always gets penne with butter.

— shivani vora, New York Times, "How Roya Sullivan, Designer of Macy’s Holiday Windows, Spends Her Sundays," 15 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'penne.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of penne

Italian, plural of penna, literally, quill, feather, pen, from Latin pinna feather & penna wing — more at pen

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First Known Use: 1919

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