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

The universal glee of getting tacos (Silvia Razgova) Picture the moment when a taquero hands you a warm paper plate heaping with warm tortillas and meats on a street in Los Angeles. — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026

Maybe take home a pack of their perfect tortillas for the runner in your life? — Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 28 Oct. 2026

Ladybird Taco started with a breakfast craving, a homemade tortilla and a chance encounter that changed everything. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

One favorite on her list is almond flour tortillas from Siete. — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 23 Oct. 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"