tortilla

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

/ tɔrˈti ə; Spanish tɔrˈti yɑ /

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noun, plural tor·til·las

[tawr-tee-uhz; Spanish tawr-tee-yahs]. /tɔrˈti əz; Spanish tɔrˈti yɑs/. Mexican Cooking.

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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Origin of tortilla

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

Words nearby tortilla

Tortelier, tortellini, tortfeasor, torticollis, tortile, tortilla, tortilla chip, Tortilla Flat, tortillon, tortious, tortoise

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use tortilla in a sentence

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.
The Gear Our Editors Loved in July|wtaylor|August 6, 2021|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.
Coronado Community Has Rallied to Defend Many Embattled Coaches|Kayla Jimenez|July 12, 2021|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.
America forgot how to make proper pie. Can we remember before it’s too late?|Megan McArdle|July 1, 2021|Washington Post
My husband taught the students how to prepare tortilla española and espinacas a la catalana in their own kitchens.
Real Madrid|Margery Resnick|April 28, 2021|MIT Technology Review

I pop the doughnuts into an old bread bag or tortilla wrapper bag.
Hints From Heloise: Repurpose your grocery bags|Heloise Heloise|April 22, 2021|Washington Post
The notion to morph a specialty tortilla chip into a taco shell at first may sound like it would be a snap.
Taste Sensation Innovation||September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Rodrigo de la Calle is the rare Spanish chef content to trade in his tortilla española for more creative gastronomical adventures.
Rodrigo de la Calle Is Spain’s Vegetable Whisperer|Kara Cutruzzula|March 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To assemble taco place escabeche, fish and tartar sauce in a tortilla and garnish with cilantro and lime.
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Tacos for One and All||May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
To assemble taco place crème fraiche, salsa, chicken, and plantains in a tortilla.
Cinco de Mayo Recipes: Tacos for One and All||May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Place cactus mix in warm tortilla and top with fresh cilantro and jalapeño pepper.
Taco Recipes & Vodka Cocktails: Perfect Pairings|Julieta Ballesteros|October 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
If you could not manage with the tortilla, you were excused for using your fingers.
Unknown Mexico, Volume 1 (of 2)|Carl Lumholtz
All were extremely hungry, as we had eaten nothing since morning except a tortilla or two with some eggs as we rode along.
In Indian Mexico (1908)|Frederick Starr
Two of the men carried earthen platters filled with frijoles, a single tortilla in each platter.
The Rifle Rangers|Captain Mayne Reid
The sacrifice in 13 is represented by a Kan sign, which is equivalent to maize, maize bread or tortilla.
Commentary on the Maya Manuscript in the Royal Public Library of Dresden|Ernst Frsteman
Beat the eggs and pour them into the mixture, let the tortilla set, then turn it with a plate, and set the other side.
The Allinson Vegetarian Cookery Book|Thomas R. Allinson

British Dictionary definitions for tortilla

tortilla

/ (tɔːˈtiːə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for tortilla

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

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