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

The air smelled perpetually of tortilla chips, and the soundtrack was an agreeable mixture of Matchbox Twenty and sizzling fajita platters.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

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

From Slate ● Sep. 14, 2026

“I can eat a tortilla any time of the day. So, perfect for me.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 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

I take a few chicharrones, put them in a soft tortilla, and drown them in dark red salsa.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026

Perea and his crew make handmade tortillas and quesadillas for the event.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 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

Serve it with warm corn tortillas, diced onion, cilantro and a flavorful salsa, and you have the makings of an outdoor taco night that largely takes care of itself.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

The children ate their flour tortillas and milk standing up, but Lupita and Salvador sat at the table.

From "Lupita Mañana" by Patricia Beatty

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