tomatillo

American  

[toh-muh-tee-oh, -teel-yoh] / ˌtoʊ məˈti oʊ, -ˈtil yoʊ /

noun

plural

tomatilloes, tomatillos

1. a plant, Physalis ixocarpa, of the nightshade family, native to Mexico, having yellow flowers with five blackish spots in the throat and bluish, sticky berries in a purple-veined calyx.

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tomatillo British  

/ tɒməˈtɪləʊ, -ˈtiːjəʊ /

noun

1. a solanaceous plant, Physalis ixocarpa , of South America

2. Also called: green tomato.  the greenish-purple fruit of this plant that is a staple in Mexican cuisine

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Etymology

Origin of tomatillo

1910–15; < Spanish, diminutive of tomate tomato

Compare meaning

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

• tomatillo vs. tomato

Example Sentences

And in the Santa Maria Valley, a diminutive 15-year-old girl struggles to load a large bucket with 20 pounds of tomatillos, earning $3 for each one she fills.

From Los Angeles Times

Nawab highlights the contrast between the “fiery serrano chiles” and ingredients like tomatillos, juxtaposed with the earthy flavors and rich texture of the nuts, which balance beautifully.

From Salon

And true to their nature, the Trigos also are offering a few companion plants, such as tomatillos, basil and Persian cucumbers.

From Los Angeles Times

A portion of the liquid is pureed in a blender with tomatillos to make the salsa, while the turkey is reheated in the remaining liquid.

From Washington Times

It includes breakfast sandwiches with slight uplifts - one comes with avocado and tomatillo along with egg and sausage - desserts such as filled donut-like pastries called McPops, and snacks including pretzel bites.

From BBC