plural chia
1
: an annual herb (Salvia hispanica) of the mint family that is native to Mexico and Guatemala, has spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers, and is grown for its grayish, edible, mucilaginous seeds which are eaten whole or used especially to make a beverage or oil
… to develop, test and grow new cultivars of chia that are able to produce seed in the cooler climate of the Upper South and Midwest, with the potential to increase production of this crop with a traceable domestic supply.Susan Smith-Durisek
also : any of several related salvias (especially Salvia columbariae) of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico
2
or chia seed : the seed of a chia
When mixed with water, the fiber in chia forms a gel that lowers cholesterol and keeps blood sugar stable.Jane E. Brody
Chia seeds are tiny and have a very mild taste, making them easy to add to all kinds of foods to boost nutrition.Megan Murphy

Examples of chia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This protein powder doesn't contain any fiber, so Sheth recommends adding chia seeds or high-fiber fruit (like berries, apples, or pears) to your smoothie when using this powder. April Benshosan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024 Anderson-Haynes said other types of seafood and fish, seaweed, walnuts, flax seeds, or chia seeds are good dietary sources of omega-3s. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Pro tip: Let the chia seeds soak in your juice overnight for a treat reminiscent of boba or bubble tea. Audrey Bruno, SELF, 21 Feb. 2024 If oily fish isn’t on the menu for you, try upping your intake of avocados, eggs, chia seeds and olive oil instead. Georgia Day, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023 Dorm-friendly Overnight Oats ½ cup oats ¼ cup milk ¼ cup yogurt 1 tablespoon chia seeds ½ banana, sliced 2 tablespoons blueberries The evening before, add oats, milk, chia seeds, and yogurt in a sealable container. Nick Siano, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan. 2024 Chia Seeds: Two tablespoons of chia seeds provide about 4 grams of protein. Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Ld, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2024 One of their long-distance treks can accumulate as many as 400 miles in 50 hours on pinole and chia seeds alone. Andrea Aliseda, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2024 Drizzle honey over oatmeal or overnight oats, pancakes, fresh fruit, chia seeds, or avocado pudding. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 13 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish chía, from Nahuatl chía, chian, from Maya chiháan "strong, strengthening"

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chia was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near chia

Cite this Entry

“Chia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chia. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!