burrito

American  

[buh-ree-toh, boor-ree-taw] / bəˈri toʊ, burˈri tɔ /

noun

Mexican Cooking.

• burritos
  plural

1. a tortilla folded over a filling, as of ground beef, grated cheese, or refried beans.

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burrito British  

/ bəˈriːtəʊ /

noun

1. Mexican cookery a tortilla folded over a filling of minced beef, chicken, cheese, or beans

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• burritos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of burrito

First recorded in 1940–45; from Mexican Spanish (Guerrero): “stuffed taco,” Spanish: “young donkey, foal,” equivalent to burr(o) “donkey” + -ito diminutive suffix; see origin at burro

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Compare meaning

How does burrito compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• enchilada vs. burrito
• burrito vs. chimichanga
• taco vs. burrito
• burro vs. burrito

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Explanation

A burrito is a delicious Mexican dish made of foods like beans, cheese, or other fillings rolled up in a soft tortilla. Eat a big burrito for lunch, and you may still be full at dinnertime. In Spanish, burrito means "little donkey" or "little burro," a name that may have been inspired by the rolled packs that working burros carry on their backs. Burritos are common in northern parts of Mexico and areas of the U.S. that border that country. Over the years, the burrito's popularity has spread widely, along with other Mexican dishes such as nachos and tacos. Authentic Mexican burritos tend to be smaller and have fewer ingredients than their U.S. counterparts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

burrito burritos

Starbucks gained 1.7% and Chipotle Mexican Grill declined 3.8% after the coffeehouse said it would not buy the burrito maker, ending speculation of a potential deal between two of the country’s most recognizable chains.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

A hot cup of coffee might be among the last things you think of when you order a burrito.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

“When I’m home and I’m exhausted, I’m like, ‘I can’t spend $30 for, like, a burrito right now.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

I’d been watching a rerun of the E! show from a bedbug-ridden townhome in Downtown Los Angeles, and earlier that day I grappled with whether I should pay my parking debt or buy a burrito.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

Dad pulled out a burrito and offered one to me.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

The researchers compare it to approximately 40 million dump trucks' worth of matter, or about 1.3 trillion one-pound burritos every second.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 10, 2026

Handling personalized drinks, along with burritos and bowls, could make things complicated in Chipotle’s kitchens, Zackfia said, depending on how far down that road Chipotle might go.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

He hands out burritos to the homeless and has resorted to bargaining directly with neighborhood loiterers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

I’m much happier with an occasional Big Seasonal Prep Day — fill the freezer with soups, sauces, breakfast burritos and other useful things — and then let the ensuing weeks fall where they will.

From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2026

Wind nymphs zipped around the room, delivering orders of pizza, burgers, steaks, salads, Chinese food, and burritos, all flying at terminal velocity.

From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan

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