WordGarden.iospaghetti
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /spəɡˈɛti/
US
- /spəˈɡɛti/
Meanings
Noun
a dish of long thin pasta, usually served with sauce
long thin strands of pasta
Beyond the definition
Spaghetti brings to mind red sauce, meatballs, and warm family dinners. But it is not just a meal; it is a type of pasta: long, thin strands that came from Italy. It is usually made from durum wheat semolina and water, then boiled until it is just firm enough to bite. People eat it with many kinds of sauce, from simple tomato sauce to richer sauces with cheese, meat, or oil. Sometimes, people also use the word in a playful way for something tangled or messy, like a mass of wires behind a computer.
Spaghetti is one of the most well-known kinds of pasta in the world. The name comes from the Italian word spago, meaning "thin string," which fits its long, narrow shape. It is strongly linked with Italian cooking and with Italian-American meals such as spaghetti and meatballs. In Italy, though, it is often served in simpler ways, with sauces like garlic and oil or tomato.
Most often, the word refers to the pasta itself or to a dish made from it. It is usually cooked in boiling water and served with sauce, vegetables, cheese, meat, or seafood. Because the strands are long and easy to tangle, people sometimes use the word in a figurative way for something messy or hard to follow, such as a pile of cables or a confusing plan.
The word can also suggest comfort, simplicity, and everyday eating, because this pasta is common in homes and restaurants around the world. Whether it comes with a plain tomato sauce or a more filling topping, it usually refers to a familiar dish built around long, thin pasta strands.
Examples
- 1
Everyday meal
We had spaghetti for dinner last night.
- 2
Cooking
She made spaghetti with garlic, olive oil, and chili flakes.
- 3
Portion
I only ate half a plate of spaghetti because I wasn't very hungry.
- 4
Cooking advice
Don't break the spaghetti before you put it in the pot.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Programming
The team is trying to clean up some spaghetti code in the old app.
- Phrasespaghetti code
code that is badly organized and hard to follow
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- spaghettinoun