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

New items, which won’t be new to anyone who has stepped foot inside one of California’s many taquerias, include new meats like chicken and chorizo, flour tortillas in addition to corn ones and, of course, burritos. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

The items feature breaded and battered chicken tenders, lettuce, shredded cheese, two pickles and a buttermilk tortilla inspired by the brand's biscuits. —Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026

Some of the new items include a sweet and spicy chicken bánh mì bowl, chicken tortilla salad and a hot burrata veggie sandwich. —Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026

During a September 2025 interview with the Taco Policy podcast, Talarico noted that his usual go-to taco order is actually a bacon and egg taco on a flour tortilla – another common combination for breakfast taco connoisseurs. —Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 29 May 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"