vermicelli

noun

ver·​mi·​cel·​li ˌvər-mə-ˈche-lē  -ˈse- 

: pasta made in long solid strings smaller in diameter than spaghetti

Examples of vermicelli in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Thuan and Angela’s nuoc cham, the Vietnamese condiment/sauce that can make or break a vermicelli or rice-based dish. —Tim Carman, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2022

Creating rice vermicelli is a complicated process: After making the rice dough, it's then steamed slightly before it's kneaded and extruded into super fine strands, which are then dried. —Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN, 26 Apr. 2022

Spring rolls were an artful assemblage of two shrimp, laid across lettuce-and-vermicelli filling, visible through the diaphanous rice-paper wrapping. —Rand Richards Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 Oct. 2022

Cold vermicelli noodles can be easily taken on the go. —Jess Eng, Washington Post, 22 June 2022

On a recent day, customers grabbed canisters of Vietnamese vermicelli with crab, tomato and broth to go, along with crunchy egg rolls and baguette sandwiches selling for $3.75 to $5.25. —Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2021

Banh hoi vermicelli noodle bowls with shrimp and pork belly. —Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2021

Ditto the ones that had contained the Q&Q Fideo vermicelli my mom loved to cook with ground beef and tomato sauce. —New York Times, 30 Mar. 2021

Another looker is marinated steamed cod wrapped in thread-thin vermicelli. —Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2020

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, plural of vermicello, diminutive of verme "worm," going back to Latin vermis — more at worm entry 1

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

vermicelli

noun

ver·​mi·​cel·​li ˌvər-mə-ˈchel-ē  -ˈsel- 

: a pasta that is thinner than spaghetti

Etymology

from Italian vermicelli "pasta similar to but thinner than spaghetti," literally, "little worms," from verme "worm," from Latin vermis "worm" — related to vermin see Word History at vermin