# pasta

/ˈpɑstə/ (US) · /pˈɑːstɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pasta
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the food ingredient

noun · CEFR A1

a food made from flour and water that comes in many shapes like spaghetti or macaroni.

For teachers: the substance or dough made from durum wheat and water, often dried and sold in various geometric forms.

- I always keep a box of dried pasta in the cupboard for a quick dinner.
- The chef insists on making fresh pasta every morning, claiming the texture is superior to any commercial dried variety.

### 2. a prepared meal

noun · CEFR A1

a dish or a serving of cooked pasta.

For teachers: a culinary dish consisting primarily of cooked pasta, typically served with a sauce.

- We ordered a delicious tomato pasta at the Italian restaurant.
- After a long day of hiking, a hearty bowl of pasta provided the necessary carbohydrates for recovery.

### 3. internet meme text

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a block of text that people copy and paste many times on the internet, often as a joke.

For teachers: a block of text, often a story or meme, that is copied and pasted across social media or message boards.

- That funny story about the gorilla is just an old pasta from ten years ago.
- The forum was flooded with the same pasta, making it difficult for users to engage in any meaningful discussion.

Usage: Shortened form of 'copypasta'; used almost exclusively in digital contexts.

## Examples

- I usually cook pasta for dinner when I am in a hurry.
- The chef tossed the fresh pasta with olive oil, garlic, and a handful of chopped parsley.
- While dried pasta is a pantry staple due to its long shelf life, many traditional recipes specifically call for fresh egg pasta to achieve a more delicate texture.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.