macaroni
Americannoun
-
small, tubular pasta prepared from wheat flour.
-
an English dandy of the 18th century who affected Continental mannerisms, clothes, etc.
noun
-
pasta tubes made from wheat flour
-
(in 18th-century Britain) a dandy who affected foreign manners and style
Etymology
Origin of macaroni
1590–1600; earlier maccaroni < dialectal Italian, plural of maccarone ( Italian maccherone ). See macaroon
Explanation
Macaroni is a short, skinny, tube-shaped pasta. Many kids — and adults — would name "macaroni and cheese" as one of their favorite foods. At some Italian restaurants, you can order macaroni as a side dish, and it's easy to cook at home with tomato sauce or butter and cheese. Macaroni and cheese can be cooked on the stove or baked in the oven with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. Macaroni began to have the second meaning of "fop" or "dandy" around 1780, named for the well-traveled youths who ate what was considered fancy and exotic at the time — macaroni.
Vocabulary lists containing macaroni
Words from the 4th of July Songbook
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Aquatic, Waddle, and Plumage: Penguin Parlance
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
Unfortunately, sloppy handling of details is one of two chief weaknesses besetting “The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026
Van Leeuwen’s Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ice cream came out to rave reviews in 2021 and was re-released for a short time last fall.
From Seattle Times • May 19, 2024
The Tony Macaroni Arena is not Hearts fans' favourite place to go.
From BBC • Jan. 2, 2024
If you live in Gotham City, and have reservations at Mama Macaroni, Poison Ivy's favorite pasta place, you may have the privilege of enjoying a plate of vegan la-zit-balls.
From Salon • Feb. 9, 2023
My favorite was a dish that came all the way from the country of Italy—they called it Macaroni a l’Italienne with Fromage de Parmesan.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
