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

Spread about 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise evenly over each tortilla. — Sharon Lawson, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Japanese sweet potatoes) that are carved and perched sculpturally on small, nicely weighty tortillas. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Today, crews enjoy a wide variety of foods, including tortillas, spicy shrimp cocktails, rehydratable macaroni and cheese, and occasional treats such as brownies, cookies and fresh fruit delivered by cargo spacecraft. — Sundeep Venkatesan, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026

An Enchirito is made with a warm flour tortilla filled with seasoned beef, refried beans and diced onions and is smothered in red sauce and melted shredded cheddar cheese. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

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
• dyspnea
• dyspnoea
• hosea
• idea
• kshatriya
• kyrie
• lutea
• maria

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"