tortellini

noun

tor·​tel·​li·​ni ˌtȯr-tə-ˈlē-nē 

plural tortellini also tortellinis

: pasta in the form of little ring-shaped cases containing a filling (as of meat or cheese)

Examples of tortellini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This region gave the world prosciutto di Parma, balsamico, Parmigiano cheese, and tortellini. —Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2025

Nibble on crispy pork cheek, pearly mussels, and pumpkin and ricotta tortellini for starters—while mains range from confit chicken leg to hoi sin braised short rib (with Asian slaw and wasabi peas) and The Swan Burger, thick and juicy, with applewood cheddar, onion rings and crispy French fries. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

Bring to a boil, add tortellini and reduce heat to medium; simmer, stirring occasionally, until tortellini are cooked. —Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024

Friday night at Carbone, a Greenwich Village celeb magnet, the couple of more than a year ordered a feast — including an assortment of antipasti followed by an entrée, rigatoni a la vodka, and a decadent tortellini dish smothered in fresh truffles. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, plural of tortellino, diminutive of tortello "rectangular or disk-shaped filled pasta, fritter," diminutive of torta "cake, tart," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf of bread" — more at tart entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1911, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tortellini

• antonine
• aubergine
• celestine
• cytosine
• emetine
• infantine
• johannine
• kerosine
• kundalini
• nepheline
• phenelzine
• proserpine

Kids Definition

tortellini

noun

tor·​tel·​li·​ni ˌtȯrt-ə-ˈlē-nē 

plural tortellini also tortellinis

: pasta in the form of little ring-shaped cases containing a filling (as of meat or cheese)