tortilla

American  

[tawr-tee-uh, tawr-tee-yah] / tɔrˈti ə, tɔrˈti jɑ /

noun

Mexican Cooking.

• tortillas
  plural

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

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tortilla British  

/ tɔːˈtiːə /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• tortillas
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of tortilla

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

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Explanation

A tortilla is a Central American and Mexican type of flatbread. A burrito is a mix of delicious fillings — like seasoned rice, chicken, beans, guacamole, and salsa — wrapped in a warm tortilla. Yum! Traditional tortillas are sort of like very flat pancakes made from cornmeal. Tortillas made of wheat flour are a newer variation. Corn tortillas have been a staple food in North and Central America for hundreds of years, long before Europeans began settling in the area. In Spanish, tortilla means "a tart" or "a little cake," from the Late Latin torta, or "flat cake."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tortilla tortillas

It resembled what Montgomery could only compare to a tortilla roll with chickpeas, and had circular patterns all over it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

The most concerning product that CR tested in terms of glycidyl esters was Takis Fuego tortilla chips.

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

Coming home without that unused tortilla press or those ill-fitting shorts does provide a certain sense of satisfaction.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

Serve piled onto tostadas, scooped up with tortilla chips or spooned over rice.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

I peeked inside and saw a fresh tortilla, stuffed with rice and beans and onion and red salsa and green cilantro and grilled chicken.

From "The Honest Truth" by Dan Gemeinhart

It’s known forhouse-made corn tortillas, pan dulce and ceviches.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Murillo rang up tortillas, cuts of meat, and three-liter Mexican soda bottles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

For example, it might direct a shopper planning a taco night to all the ingredients, from tortillas to cheese to vegetables, which they might otherwise leave behind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Unlike taquitos, flautas are typically longer and traditionally made with flour tortillas, though some varieties also call for corn tortillas.

From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026

They had eaten a lot of tortillas and sweet corn.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

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