tortellini

noun

tor·​tel·​li·​ni ˌtȯr-tə-ˈlē-nē 

plural tortellini also tortellinis

: pasta in the form of little ring-shaped cases containing a filling (as of meat or cheese)

Examples of tortellini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Edoardo Baldi, among Hollywood’s favorite chefs, plates a dish of sweet corn tortellini at the pass in the gleaming kitchen of his forthcoming steakhouse at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. —Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026

Made with just three ingredients—tortellini, broth, and (at least in my version) spinach or other greens—this warming dish cooks up in minutes. —Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026

Add 1 cup water, tortellini and a pinch of salt and bring to boil. —Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026

Add 1 cup water, tortellini and a pinch of salt and bring to boil. —Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, plural of tortellino, diminutive of tortello "rectangular or disk-shaped filled pasta, fritter," diminutive of torta "cake, tart," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf of bread" — more at tart entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tortellini

• antonine
• aubergine
• celestine
• cytosine
• emetine
• infantine
• johannine
• kerosine
• kundalini
• nepheline
• phenelzine
• proserpine

Kids Definition

tortellini

noun

tor·​tel·​li·​ni ˌtȯrt-ə-ˈlē-nē 

plural tortellini also tortellinis

: pasta in the form of little ring-shaped cases containing a filling (as of meat or cheese)