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

There’s also a layer of mashed refried beans to help the toppings stick to the fried tortilla. —Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 7 May 2025

After Mary was arrested, Michelle and Kaj bought her items from the commissary online: a tube of cocoa-butter lotion, a pack of playing cards, some Kraft jalapeño spread, a flour tortilla, and a pair of reading glasses. —Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

The new Homestyle Breakfast Burrito rolls up sausage, cheese, and eggs in a flour tortilla and is served with a side of Texas Pete Hot Sauce. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 2 May 2025

It’s wrapped in a flour tortilla that transforms into a golden, flaky pastry in the deep fryer. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 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"