quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ˈkēn-ˌwä How to pronounce quinoa (audio)
kē-ˈnō-ə
: an annual herb (Chenopodium quinoa) of the goosefoot family that is native to the Andean highlands and is cultivated for its starchy seeds which are used as food and ground into flour
also : its seeds

Examples of quinoa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Gift your favorite chocolate obsessive Hu’s Dark Chocolate Variety Pack, which offers a sampling of flavors like almond butter and puffed quinoa to crunchy mint. Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 21 Nov. 2023 Is mighty millet on its way to become the new quinoa? Maria Speck, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2023 Feel free to make a grain side dish, like quinoa or rice, instead. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 12 Nov. 2023 Unlike slightly toothsome quinoa, the grain cooks up pleasingly supple, which might be appealing to children. Maria Speck, Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2023 Malibu Farm makes its own beef burgers, but holds the french fries in favor of better-for-you side dishes such as broccoli mash or quinoa rice. Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Sep. 2023 Whole grains such as brown rice or quinoa can provide healthy carbohydrates. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2023 Consider roasting them as a side or filling them with other vegetables and grains, like quinoa and tomatoes. Byalexa Mikhail, Fortune Well, 18 Sep. 2023 While grains in a tart may seem counterintuitive, whole grains like quinoa or barley are nutrient power hitters and can add some extra bulk to the meal. Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 30 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quinoa.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua kinua

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quinoa was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near quinoa

Cite this Entry

“Quinoa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quinoa. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

quinoa

noun
qui·​noa ki-ˈnō-ə How to pronounce quinoa (audio)
: a goosefoot that occurs in the Andes and has starchy seeds that are used as food and ground into flour
also : its seeds

More from Merriam-Webster on quinoa

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