matzo

American  

[maht-suh, mah-tsah, mah-tsaw] / ˈmɑt sə, mɑˈtsɑ, ˈmɑ tsɔ /

Or matzah,

noun

plural

matzos, matzoth, matzot

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

2. one of these crackers.

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matzo British  

/ ˈmætˈsəʊ, ˈmætsə /

noun

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

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matzo Cultural  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of matzo

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

Explanation

Matzo is a cracker-like bread that's traditionally eaten during Passover. When matzo is ground into a flour, it can be used to make matzo balls for soup. During the Jewish holiday of Passover, observant Jews don't eat anything that's leavened, like yeast bread that rises before being baked. Matzo is a good, if crispy, substitute for bread, and it's unleavened. Matzo is also symbolic, representing both freedom and humility. It's sometimes spelled matzoh or matzah, from the Hebrew matztzah, "unleavened bread," or literally, "juiceless."

Example Sentences

On the first evening, about 100 activists, many Jewish, sat in a circle to pray, sing, drink grape juice and eat matzo ball soup, matzo crackers and watermelon.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2024

While their dough takes about 2 minutes to cook, in a real matzo factory the oven is 2000 degrees and is done in seconds, Raskin said.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 20, 2024

Soon lunch arrives, an international smorgasbord of latkes, kale salad, a chicken quesadilla and matzo ball soup.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2023

It was matzo ball soup for the Yiddish soul.

From Salon • Jul. 8, 2023

Like us, they are Cuban and Jewish—they dance the cha-cha-cha, and eat matzo on Passover.

From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar