chia

[ chee-uh ]

noun

1. a plant, Salvia columbariae, of the mint family, native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, having mostly basal, oblong leaves and small blue flowers: the seeds are used as food and as the source of a beverage.
2. any of several similar related plants.
3. a beverage brewed from the seeds of any of these plants.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chia¹

1875–80; < Mexican Spanish chía < Nahuatl chiah, chian

Example Sentences

I made the film with my two best friends from high school, Ben Solomon and Filippo Chia.

From The Daily Beast

Seek out varieties that include seeds—like flax, chia and sesame—which add nutrients including omega-3s and protein.

From The Daily Beast

Mix it together and let it sit for about ten minutes so the chia seeds can saturate.

From The Daily Beast

The only thing worse than interviewer Jim Gray being the nasty chia pet he usually is was watching him trying to be nice.

From The Daily Beast

It is of a hot and moist temperature, yielding grain, and the white medicinal earth called chia, in which they carry on a trade.

From Project Gutenberg

Wang-sun Chia said, What is the meaning of, It is better to court the hearth-god than the god of the home?

From Project Gutenberg

All the first day we were crossing the beautiful Chia-ting plain, seamed and watered by many rivers and streams.

From Project Gutenberg

Chia's coffers had gradually become empty; and now his hand could no longer keep pace with his wishes.

From Project Gutenberg

But Li Chia was now able to hire a smaller vessel for themselves alone, and in this he stowed their baggage.

From Project Gutenberg