tortilla

noun

tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-yə 

: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread usually eaten hot with a topping or filling (as of ground meat or cheese)

Examples of tortilla in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Small, three-bite tortillas filled with seasoned meat, topped with fresh cilantro and onions, and dripping with salsa are what make a perfect taco. —Michael Moberly, Saveur, 13 Aug. 2025

The same with his bulgogi tacos, made with Mexican corn tortillas and a spicy Korean sauce of samjung (soybean paste) and kimchi. —Emiene Wright, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025

Thanks to today's food science, bread products – including tortillas, bagels and English muffins – can be surprisingly nutritious and don't have to be given up, according to Zemer. —Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2025

Serve with rice or tortillas to finish off the mail. —Jasmine Smith, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from American Spanish (Mexico, Central America, parts of the Caribbean and South America), from Spanish, diminutive of torta "cake, pastry," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf of bread" — more at tart entry 2

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tortilla

• tortilla chip

Rhymes for tortilla

• aliya
• aliyah
• althea
• apnoea
• coffea
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• maria
• medea

Kids Definition

tortilla

noun

tor·​ti·​lla tȯr-ˈtē-(y)ə 

: a thin round of unleavened cornmeal or wheat flour bread

Etymology

American Spanish, literally "little cake," from Spanish torta "cake"