pasta

noun

pas·​ta ˈpä-stə 

also

ˈpa- 

1

: paste in processed form (such as macaroni) or in the form of fresh dough (such as ravioli)

2

: a dish of cooked pasta

Examples of pasta in a Sentence

They ordered pasta with meat sauce.

Breads and pastas are high in carbohydrates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Expect chef/owner Bruce Moffett’s menu to change seasonally while keeping a few things like NC trout and fresh pasta as regular features. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 4 June 2025

Cento Raw Bar is chef Avner Levi’s new followup to Cento Pasta Bar, where the Bestia and Sotto alum gave his Mignon pasta pop-up its own location and a broader menu. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025

East Fork, the brand known for turning pasta bowls into works of art, uses its pottery to uphold a high standard of craftsmanship and technique—every piece of pottery feels thoughtfully made. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 3 June 2025

Here, a team of chefs will guide you through three dishes, putting you to work cleaning crawfish, cutting pasta dough, and slicing citrus and eggplant, all while demonstrating how each recipe can best be adjusted for home cooking. —Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Late Latin

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pasta

• angel-hair pasta
• pasta cooker

Rhymes for pasta

• jocasta

Kids Definition

pasta

noun

pas·​ta ˈpäs-tə 

1

: a dough of flour, eggs, and water made in different shapes and dried (as spaghetti or macaroni) or used fresh (as ravioli)

2

: a dish of cooked pasta