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

Michael Tusk has combined his love of Northern Italian cuisine with his surroundings in Northern California to evolve classics like tortellini into modern American fare. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2025

Less known is that most of the tortellini, spaghetti and rigatoni its factories churn out gets sent abroad. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2025

Dry the pot and return the tortellini and onion to it. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025

Think of watching that alfresco, beside a sacred edifice, while trying to digest your tortellini in brodo. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025

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)