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

Wouldn’t the assumption be that those eating tortillas are most likely having beans as well? —U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

Also, a basin holding raw meat was stored on the floor of the kitchen, frozen meat was being thawed by being left to sit out at room temperature, and non-food-grade plastic grocery bags with ink on them were being used to hold tortillas and to thaw meat. —Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 13 Jan. 2026

In an active effort to reduce a gap in healthy births in the Latino community, the state is requiring tortilla producers to add folic acid to corn masa. —Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado january 12, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026

While the chicken is cooking, wrap 8 medium tortillas in foil and heat in a 375°F oven for about 10 minutes. —Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 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"