patty

A patty is usually a small, flat, round piece of food. Most often, it means the piece of ground meat or vegetables that goes inside a hamburger bun. It can also mean other foods shaped this way, such as salmon patties or similar dishes. In some places, especially in the Caribbean, it can also mean a filled pastry, such as a Jamaican beef patty. So the word may describe either a flat piece of food or a savory turnover, depending on the setting.

Imagine biting into a hamburger. At the center is the patty: a small, flat, round piece of meat, fish, or vegetables shaped for cooking and eating. This is the most common meaning in modern English, especially in American English. A beef burger, a veggie burger, and some crab or salmon dishes can all include a patty.

The word also has an older pastry sense. In that meaning, it can refer to a small savory pie or turnover with a filling inside. This use is still easy to see in names such as Jamaican patty, which is a baked pastry filled with meat, vegetables, or other savory ingredients.

The exact meaning depends on context. In one sentence, it may mean the round piece inside a burger. In another, it may mean a filled pastry. In both cases, the idea is a small prepared food item with a simple, handy shape.