tamale

noun

ta·​ma·​le tə-ˈmä-lē How to pronounce tamale (audio)
: cornmeal dough rolled with ground meat or beans seasoned usually with chili, wrapped usually in corn husks, and steamed

Examples of tamale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Layer with chicken tamale mix, cilantro, sour cream, and cheese. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 28 Oct. 2024 The ride is smooth, and carriages are clean and comfortable, with a cafe car stocked with warm tamales spiced with delicate herbs. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2024 Fill up on handmade tortillas, flautas, tacos, and tamales alongside fresh vegetables and delectable proteins. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 22 Oct. 2024 The starchy fruit can be added to soups, stews, salads, tamales, puddings, and pies. Richard Schiffman, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tamale 

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tamales, plural of tamal tamale, from Nahuatl tamalli steamed cornmeal dough

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamale was in 1854

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near tamale

Cite this Entry

“Tamale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tamale. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

tamale

noun
ta·​ma·​le tə-ˈmäl-ē How to pronounce tamale (audio)
: cornmeal dough rolled with ground meat or beans seasoned usually with chili, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed

Geographical Definition

Tamale

geographical name

Ta·​ma·​le tä-ˈmä-lā How to pronounce Tamale (audio)
town in northern Ghana population 371,351

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