tostada

noun

tos·​ta·​da tō-ˈstä-də 

variants or less commonly tostado

tō-ˈstä-(ˌ)dō 

plural tostadas also tostados

: a tortilla deep-fried in hot oil

also : a tostada that is topped with a mixture of ingredients (such as seasoned meat, cheese, and lettuce)

Examples of tostada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Torrey Hart If tostadas or donuts don’t suit your fancy, try tennis superstar Iga Świątek’s favorite dish: strawberries and pasta. —Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 July 2025

Evenly spread 2 scant tablespoons of the spicy sour cream on top of the tostada. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2025

Top the mixture with a tostada, pressing it slightly to make sure the meat mixture is evenly distributed. —The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2025

Spicy beef tostadas reinvigorate the Taco Tuesday tradition What’s cooking in that one pot? —Gretchen McKay, Twin Cities, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tostada, from Spanish, feminine of tostado, past participle of tostar to toast, roast, from Late Latin tostare — more at toast entry 2

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tostada

• armada
• entrada
• espada
• hamada
• jornada
• kannada
• posada
• quebrada
• ramada
• sagrada
• arthropoda
• intifada

Kids Definition

tostada

noun

tos·​ta·​da tō-ˈstäd-ə 

: a fried tortilla

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tostada, a feminine form of tostado "fried," from Spanish tostado "toasted"