tortilla

American

[tawr-tee-uh, tawr-tee-yah] / tɔrˈti ə, tɔrˈti yɑ /

noun

Mexican Cooking.

plural

tortillas

a thin, round, unleavened bread prepared from cornmeal or sometimes wheat flour, baked on a flat plate of iron, earthenware, or the like.

tortilla British

/ tɔːˈtiːə /

noun

Mexican cookery a kind of thin pancake made from corn meal and cooked on a hot griddle until dry

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tortilla

1690–1700; < Spanish, equivalent to tort ( a ) cake ( torte ) + -illa diminutive suffix < Latin -ella

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The boxes are for empty tortilla chip and plastic produce bags, used clothing, light bulbs and batteries.

From Los Angeles Times

An elephant's trunk can surpass a human's height and lift trees -- a marvel of strength that's conversely so gentle it can grasp a tortilla chip without breaking it.

From Barron's

Murals on side streets depict women cooking tortillas on a comal and musicians playing guitar and accordion.

From Los Angeles Times

Teachers and volunteers sort donations by category, including hygiene goods, breakfast cereals, bread and tortillas, fruit and vegetables, diapers and other baby items.

From Los Angeles Times

Papa Johns is testing protein-infused dough, and Subway is selling what it calls “protein pockets”—tortillas with meat and veggies.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023