concha

1 of 2

noun (1)

con·​cha ˈkäŋ-kə 

plural conchae ˈkäŋ-ˌkē 

-ˌkī

1

a

: the plain semidome of an apse

b

: apse

2

: something shaped like a shell

especially : the largest and deepest concavity of the external ear

conchal

ˈkäŋ-kəl 

adjective

concha

2 of 2

noun (2)

con·​cha ˈkän-chə 

variants or less commonly concho

ˈkän-(ˌ)chō 

: an ornamental disk (as on clothing or tack) of American Indian origin featuring a shell or flower design

Examples of concha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Stop by: 4405 Central Ave. Must-try item: A concha. —Laura Barrero, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024

Another specialty at Forma are conchas, or Mexican sweet bread with a crunchy and sugary topping. —John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 10 June 2024

They’re helmed by people who value experimentation and self-expression over strict ideas about what does and doesn’t belong in a scone, a concha, or any number of classic pastries. —The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2024

The real question is con grano o sin grano? Sweet and savory at La Mascota Bakery: La Mascota Bakery on Whittier Boulevard in Boyle Heights has been making sweet conchas and other pan dulce since 1952. —Chelsea Hylton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023

In the last decade, the brothers have sold pink conchas seasonally to support the Alamo Breast Cancer Foundation. —Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2023

Guests can enjoy meals on the rooftop, with pastries like vanilla conchas for breakfast and small plates including tostadas and aguachile from midday on. —Zoey Poll Adriane Quinlan Michaela Trimble Becky Malinsky Katherine McGrath Monica Mendal, New York Times, 1 June 2023

Drinks will have a tropical twist, such as a lemongrass-melon agua fresca and a Dark and Stormy with a sour punch from Filipino citrus calamansi, while other dishes will be cultural mash-ups, like a concha with vegan ube ice cream. —Ferron Salniker, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2021

In addition to classic bakeries, the Alamo City has plenty of panaderías — Mexican bakeries — where people can enjoy a nice concha and sip on a hot cup of joe. —Gabriella Ybarra, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Italian & Latin; Italian conca semidome, apse, from Late Latin concha, from Latin, shell

Noun (2)

American Spanish concha, from Spanish, shell, from Late Latin conchula, diminutive of Latin concha

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1887, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

concha

noun

con·​cha

ˈkäŋ-kə also ˈkȯŋ-

plural conchae -ˌkē, -ˌkī 

1

: the largest and deepest concavity of the external ear

2

: nasal concha

conchal

-kəl 

adjective