linguine
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of linguine
First recorded in 1945–50; from Italian, plural of linguina, diminutive of lingua “tongue;” -ine 1 ( def. )
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How does linguine compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If you like spaghetti but prefer a slightly wider, flatter noodle, you might try ordering linguine the next time you're at an Italian restaurant. Linguine is a common kind of pasta, and it's more commonly spelled linguine than linguini. Either way you spell it, it's an Italian word that's the plural form of linguina, "little tongue." The ultimate root is the Latin lingua, or "tongue." While linguine doesn't resemble a human tongue, it does look a bit like a snake's long, flat tongue.
Vocabulary lists containing linguine
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.
Among the recipes: The author’s grandmother’s apple cake, her father’s linguine with clam sauce, barbecued deviled eggs and a diner-style burger.
From Washington Times • Jul. 25, 2023
Anthony Esposito, the owner of Via Sposito, an Italian restaurant in Old Bridge that serves spaghetti, linguine, penne, tortellini and gnocchi, said that he could only speculate about where the pasta might have come from.
From New York Times • May 4, 2023
Or, for a subtler flavor, go for a clam chowder with a creamy broth or use clams in pasta dishes like linguine.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2023
Lighter in all ways is a turban of linguine slicked with pesto and mixed with spinach, crushed walnuts and toasted breadcrumbs.
From Washington Post • Apr. 14, 2023
Jack would ladle it over your buttered linguine, your rounds of fresh bread.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
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.
