quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ˈkēn-ˌwä 

kē-ˈnō-ə

: an annual herb (Chenopodium quinoa) of the amaranth family that is native to the Andean highlands and is cultivated for its starchy seeds which are used as food and ground into flour

also : its seeds

Examples of quinoa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When shopping, look for varieties with minimal additives and whole grains like quinoa and brown rice. —Lindsey Desoto, Rd, Ld, Verywell Health, 6 Mar. 2025

Whole Grains Rice, quinoa, oats, and other whole grains make for another great source of potassium: 100 g of oats contains 350 mg of the mineral, and 100 g of brown rice contains 265 mg. —Audrey Noble, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025

Assemble the bowl: Start with the base of quinoa or rice in a serving bowl. —Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 12 Feb. 2025

Swapping your side dish of potatoes or rice for quinoa or cauliflower rice at dinner. —Heather Sandison, Contributor, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Quechua kinua

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quinoa

• boa
• noa
• noah
• shoah
• toa
• bryozoa
• metazoa
• polyzoa
• protozoa
• spermatozoa

Kids Definition

quinoa

noun

qui·​noa ki-ˈnō-ə 

: a goosefoot that occurs in the Andes and has starchy seeds that are used as food and ground into flour

also : its seeds