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

According to Jimmy John’s, its twist on the trend features a Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wrap that is made with all-natural chicken, Buffalo Wild Wings Medium Buffalo Sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, sliced celery, crispy carrots, and creamy ranch dressing all wrapped in a flour tortilla. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 24 June 2026

Wrap everything in a whole-grain tortilla for even more fiber. — Lindsey Desoto, Health, 24 June 2026

The dish, served with crusty bread or corn tortillas for sopping up all the tasty juices, is a nourishing, flavorful meal that brings a fresh perspective on Mexican food to the table. — The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2026

One meal that fits the bill is vegetable tacos on whole-grain tortillas with avocado, served with a side salad, two kiwifruits for dessert, and a large glass of water. — Morgan Pearson, Verywell Health, 22 June 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"