quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ˈkēn-ˌwä 

kē-ˈnō-ə

: an annual herb (Chenopodium quinoa) of the amaranth 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

Whole grains such as oats, quinoa, buckwheat, and sorghum may support a healthier inflammatory response due to their fiber, antioxidant, and phytochemical profiles. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2026

Health adds cottage cheese with pineapple, high-protein bread with nut butter and quinoa topped with tofu, beans or cheese. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

In this summery dish, the emperor’s rice is combined with quinoa to lighten things up, then tossed in a hot skillet with sweet cherry tomatoes, tender chard and shallots. — Laura McLively, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026

It’s powered by coconut alkanes (a mix of fatty acids derived from coconut) to lock in moisture without weighing down your strands, quinoa peptides to seal the cuticle, and chia seed extract to smooth split ends. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua kinua

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quinoa

• boa
• noa
• noah
• shoah
• toa
• bryozoa
• metazoa
• polyzoa
• protozoa
• spermatozoa

Kids Definition

quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ki-ˈnō-ə 

: a goosefoot that occurs in the Andes and has starchy seeds that are used as food and ground into flour

also : its seeds