Pasta: meaning, definitions and examples

General term for all types of Italian-style dishes made from dough, including spaghetti, macaroni, and many others.

• I love making pasta for dinner.
• The Italian restaurant served a variety of pasta dishes.

A broad term that can refer to any type of long, thin dough, often used in the context of Asian cuisine or casual dining.

• My favorite dish at the Chinese restaurant is a bowl of noodles.
• Instant noodles are a quick and easy snack.

Refers specifically to short, tubular pasta. Often used in the context of simple, classic dishes.

• She made creamy mac and cheese with elbow macaroni.
• Macaroni salad is a popular picnic dish.

Specific type of long, thin pasta. Usually used when discussing Italian dishes.

• We had spaghetti with marinara sauce for dinner.
• Spaghetti Bolognese is a classic Italian dish.

This word is best used when referring to a type of food made from wheat and water, typically in the form of noodles or other shapes. It is commonly cooked by boiling and served with a sauce.

• I love eating pasta with tomato sauce for dinner
• Spaghetti is my favorite type of pasta

This word is used to describe a thick, soft, moist substance that is spreadable, often used in cooking (e.g., tomato paste) or as an adhesive material in crafts and repairs.

• The recipe called for two tablespoons of tomato paste
• He used a paste to fix the broken vase

This word refers to a thick, malleable mixture of flour and liquid, used in baking to make breads, pastries, and other baked goods.

• She kneaded the dough until it was smooth and ready to rise
• The cookie dough needs to be chilled before baking

This word is used when talking about a natural material made of fine-grained minerals, often used in pottery, sculpture, and building materials.

• The artist shaped the clay into a beautiful vase
• Children enjoy playing with modeling clay to create shapes