Masa

/ˈmɑː.sɑ/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A type of dough made from cornmeal, used in various Latin American cuisines to make tortillas, tamales, and other dishes.

The chef prepared fresh masa for the homemade tortillas.

A term used in some cultures to refer to a mass or clump of something, often food-related.

She rolled the masa into small balls to prepare for the tamales.

In some contexts, masa can refer to the collective mass or mixture of ingredients before cooking.

The masa for the empanadas needed to be kneaded until smooth.

verb

To form into a mass or a dough-like consistency; often used informally.

She masáed the flour and water together until it was well combined.

From Spanish, derived from Nahuatl 'māzātl', which means 'corn'.

masa harina

A type of flour made from ground masa, used primarily in Mexican cooking.

masa dough

The dough made from masa used for various recipes.

masa for tamales

Masa specifically prepared for making tamales.

tortilla

A thin flatbread made from masa, often used as a wrap or side dish.

tamale

A traditional Mexican dish made of masa filled with various ingredients and wrapped in corn husks.

Money or wealth, often used in casual contexts.

He's got a lot of masa to spend on this trip.

A significant amount of something, not limited to material goods.

That party had a masa of fun activities!