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

The buffet style menu includes polenta to combine with Aosta Valley meats, lasagna, mixed salad, and local salami and cheeses. —Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

For some freshness and vibrance. Polenta or mashed potatoes: Warm polenta or mashed potatoes are the perfect vehicle for capturing all those juices and flavors. —Renu Dhar, Southern Living, 19 Oct. 2024

There’s still a very good burger made with tomato jam, but there are also more refined options like scallops and polenta and grilled bavette served with salsa macha. —Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Dec. 2024

The meal includes polenta and prawns fra diavola, fritto misto with shrimp, seafood salad, rigatoni alla vodka and prawns, seafood cioppino, shrimp parmigiana, stuffed swordfish and lobster ravioli, with Italian rainbow cake and struffoli for dessert. —Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024

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

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