tortilla

[ tawr-tee-uh; Spanish tawr-tee-yah ]

noun

, Mexican Cooking.

, plural tor·til·las [tawr-, tee, -, uh, z, taw, r, -, tee, -yahs].

1. a thin, round, unleavened bread prepared from cornmeal or sometimes wheat flour, baked on a flat plate of iron, earthenware, or the like.

tortilla

/ tɔːˈtiːə /

noun

1. Mexican cookery a kind of thin pancake made from corn meal and cooked on a hot griddle until dry

Word History and Origins

Origin of tortilla¹

1690–1700; < Spanish, equivalent to tort ( a ) cake ( torte ) + -illa diminutive suffix < Latin -ella

Word History and Origins

Origin of tortilla¹

C17: from Spanish: a little cake, from torta a round cake, from Late Latin; see torte

Example Sentences

A couple weeks ago, I stuffed a jug of lemonade, two sandwiches, two medium-sized bags of chips, and a package of tortillas in there.

From Outside Online

Soon after the Coronado High School basketball team’s big win, a video surfaced of Coronado students throwing tortillas at Orange Glen players.

From Voice of San Diego

That network forms the scaffolding within which the chunks of fat will melt when baked, creating the characteristic flakes that distinguish pastry from a flour tortilla.

From Washington Post

My husband taught the students how to prepare tortilla española and espinacas a la catalana in their own kitchens.

From MIT Technology Review

I pop the doughnuts into an old bread bag or tortilla wrapper bag.

From Washington Post

The notion to morph a specialty tortilla chip into a taco shell at first may sound like it would be a snap.

From The Daily Beast

Rodrigo de la Calle is the rare Spanish chef content to trade in his tortilla española for more creative gastronomical adventures.

From The Daily Beast

To assemble taco place escabeche, fish and tartar sauce in a tortilla and garnish with cilantro and lime.

From The Daily Beast

To assemble taco place crème fraiche, salsa, chicken, and plantains in a tortilla.

From The Daily Beast

Place cactus mix in warm tortilla and top with fresh cilantro and jalapeño pepper.

From The Daily Beast

If you could not manage with the tortilla, you were excused for using your fingers.

From Project Gutenberg

All were extremely hungry, as we had eaten nothing since morning except a tortilla or two with some eggs as we rode along.

From Project Gutenberg

Two of the men carried earthen platters filled with frijoles, a single tortilla in each platter.

From Project Gutenberg

The sacrifice in 13 is represented by a Kan sign, which is equivalent to maize, maize bread or tortilla.

From Project Gutenberg

Beat the eggs and pour them into the mixture, let the tortilla set, then turn it with a plate, and set the other side.

From Project Gutenberg