polenta

noun

po·​len·​ta pō-ˈlen-tə 

pə-,

-ˌtä

: mush made of chestnut meal, cornmeal, semolina, or farina

Examples of polenta in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In another pan, mix the milk and polenta, and cook until thickened, then add the cottage cheese. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Aug. 2025

Now, prepare the plate: first, layer the polenta, then top with the vegetables, and finish with the egg on top. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Aug. 2025

Mashed potatoes or polenta would be delightful to soak up excess sauce, too. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025

Trentino-Alto Adige takes Tucci into new territory: skiing down Alpine slopes, fly fishing glacial rivers, and eating slope-side polenta in a region where Italian and German identities blend in the kitchen. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Latin, crushed and hulled barley; akin to Latin pollen fine flour

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polenta

• magenta
• momenta
• placenta
• placentae
• impedimenta
• presidente

Kids Definition

polenta

noun

po·​len·​ta pō-ˈlen-tə 

: mush made of chestnut meal, cornmeal, or grain

Biographical Definition

Polenta

biographical name

Po·​len·​ta pō-ˈlen-tə 

Francesca da died 1283(or 1284) Francesca da Rimini ˌfran-ˈche-skə-dä-ˈri-mə-(ˌ)nē 

ˌfrän-,

-ˈrē-

Italian noblewoman famous for tragic adulterous love affair