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

Tomatillo salsa, Monterey Jack, chicken, and tortillas create a mouthwatering skillet meal. —Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026

Once finished, use 2 toothpicks to hold the tortillas in place. —Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026

Pair them with calcium-rich cheese and a whole-wheat tortilla to create a delicious grab-and-go breakfast. —Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 12 Apr. 2026

Pork sausage, eggs, corn tortillas, Monterey Jack, and salsa verde layer up in the slow cooker and do their thing overnight. —Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 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
• 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"