matzo

or mat·zah, mat·zoh

[ maht-suh; Sephardic Hebrew mah-tsah; Ashkenazic Hebrew mah-tsaw ]

/ ˈmɑt sə; Sephardic Hebrew mɑˈtsɑ; Ashkenazic Hebrew ˈmɑ tsɔ /

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noun, plural mat·zos, mat·zoth, mat·zot

[maht-suhz; Sephardic Hebrew mah-tsawt; Ashkenazic Hebrew mah-tsohs]. /ˈmɑt səz; Sephardic Hebrew mɑˈtsɔt; Ashkenazic Hebrew ˈmɑ tsoʊs/.

unleavened bread in the form of large crackers, typically square and corrugated, eaten by Jews during Passover.

one of these crackers.

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Origin of matzo

First recorded in 1840–50; from Yiddish matse, from Hebrew maṣṣāh

Words nearby matzo

maturity date, matutinal, MATV, maty, matzah, matzo, matzo ball, matzo brei, matzoh, matzo meal, matzoon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use matzo in a sentence

I have never been to the Matzo Ball, but I gather the vibes are different.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the end of the brief talk, the robots served Obama and Netanyahu a piece of matzo in honor of the Passover holidays.
Snake Robots, Alternative Fuel & More Highlights From Obama’s Visit to the Israel Museum|Eli Lake|March 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Once all the potatoes and onion have been ground up and mixed together in a bowl, add the eggs, matzo meal, and salt.
Mouth-Watering Potato Pancakes|Jacquelynn D. Powers|December 1, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Before the search for the matzo begins, Cookstr presents a few modern twists on traditional Passover dishes.
What to Eat: Passover|Cookstr.com|March 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST

No Jewish holiday meal would be complete without matzo ball soup, and that goes double for a holiday based around matzo.
What to Eat: Passover|Cookstr.com|March 23, 2010|DAILY BEAST
We had had neither bread nor matzo for dinner, and were more hungry than ever, if that is possible.
From Plotzk to Boston|Mary Antin
But the old woman who remembered the matzo did, more than anybody else.
From Plotzk to Boston|Mary Antin
Feitel broke the "matzo" in halves, and gave one half to his friend.
Jewish Children|Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich
Tonight, you must eat with us fish and soup and 'Matzo'-balls.
Jewish Children|Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich
Feitel drew out from under his blouse a whole fresh, white "matzo," covered with holes on both sides.
Jewish Children|Sholem Naumovich Rabinovich

British Dictionary definitions for matzo

matzo

matzoh matza or matzah (ˈmætsə)

/ (ˈmætˈsəʊ) /

noun plural matzos, matzohs, matzas, matzahs or matzoth (Hebrew maˈtsɔt)

a brittle very thin biscuit of unleavened bread, traditionally eaten during Passover

Word Origin for matzo

from Hebrew matsāh

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

Cultural definitions for matzo

matzo

[ (maht-suh) ]

A flat piece of unleavened bread, resembling a large cracker, used by Jews (see also Jews) in place of yeast bread during Passover (see also Passover). According to the biblical account of Passover, God directed the ancestors of the Jews to eat unleavened bread, rather than delay their departure from Egypt (see also Egypt) by waiting for bread to rise.