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penne A type of pasta that is typically cylindrical in shape and made from durum wheat semolina. It is often used in cold pasta salads or cooked with a tomato-based sauce. ■ "I had a dream last night that I was swimming through a pool of penne. But when I woke up, it turned out to just be a bowl of pasta salad on my bedside table."
fusilli a type of short, spiral-shaped pasta ■ "I can never remember the name of that other type of pasta. It's always fusilli to me."
Breakthrough A sudden and dramatic discovery, achievement, or success that completely changes the course of someone's life or field of study. ■ After years of struggling to find a way to make her pasta recipe taste better, Sarah finally discovered the secret ingredient: a pinch of love. From that day on, her breakthrough dish became legendary and she was known as the "pasta queen".
Macaroni A type of pasta that is made by pressing dough through a machine and cutting it into thin, flat sheets. These sheets are then boiled in water until they are soft, at which point they can be mixed with sauce and served. ■ "I had a great time at the Macaroni Festival last weekend! They had all sorts of delicious pasta dishes, but I have to say that my favorite was the spaghetti carbonara. It was absolutely amazing!"
approximation A rough estimate or close approximation of something, often with a touch of humor. ■ "His cooking was an approximation of Italian cuisine, but he nailed it every time with his homemade garlic bread and pasta sauce."
atomic A particle so small that it cannot be further divided into smaller parts. ■ "I had an atomic argument with my spouse last night over whether to eat pizza or pasta for dinner."
authentic Being true and real; not false or artificial. ■ "I may not have the most authentic Italian pasta, but it sure is delicious!"
basil A herb used in cooking, particularly Italian cuisine. It has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. ■ "I need to add some basil to this pasta dish to give it that classic Italian taste."
blurry A visual sensation in which objects appear out of focus or indistinct. ■ John's homemade pasta sauce was so blurry, he had to serve it with a side of binoculars.
carb A type of food that is high in carbohydrates, such as pasta, rice, and bread. ■ "I love carbs so much! They give me energy to run a marathon."
discriminating The ability to tell the difference between things that are similar and dissimilar, especially in order to make judgments or decisions. ■ "John may be discriminating when he says that he prefers pizza over pasta because they taste different."
fractions Small pieces of something, often used to make up a whole. ■ "I can't decide whether I want pizza or pasta for dinner tonight. Maybe I should just order both and have a big fraction of each."
freaky Extremely strange or unusual, often in a way that is unsettling or frightening. ■ "That new restaurant on the corner has some pretty freaky menu items. I'm not sure if I want to try the human eyeball pasta."
las A type of pasta dish made with layers of lasagna noodles, cheese, and sauce. ■ "I can't believe my mom made me eat lasagna again."
lasagna2 A type of Italian dish made from layers of pasta and meat, cheese, and tomato sauce. ■ I can't believe my mom still makes me eat lasagna every Sunday dinner.
meatballs A spherical mass of ground meat, typically used in Italian cuisine. ■ "I love meatballs with marinara sauce and a side of pasta. It's my favorite dish!"
Neither An expression used to indicate that something is not one thing but also not the opposite of that thing. ■ "I can't decide whether I want pizza or pasta, so I'll just have neither."
noodles "A long, thin piece of pasta that is made by a bunch of Italian grandmas in the kitchen." ■ "I can't believe I forgot my noodles at home! Now I have to eat a bowl of soup instead."
primo A person who is first in their field or occupation, and also a delicious type of pasta. ■ "John is a primo chef, and he always starts his meals with a plate of primo spaghetti carbonara."
spaghetti Long, thin, cylindrical strands of pasta made from wheat flour and eggs, typically cooked by boiling in salted water. ■ "I forgot to buy bread, so I had to make do with a plate of spaghetti for dinner."
Wheat A type of grain used to make bread, pasta, and other baked goods. It's also a common ingredient in many savory dishes. ■ "I love wheat-cakes for breakfast! They're so delicious and easy to make."
Alteration A change in the original plan or design, often involving a switch to something different and usually unintended. ■ "I originally planned on making lasagna for dinner tonight, but after realizing I was out of pasta, I had to make an alteration to my recipe and ended up with a delicious plate of spaghetti instead."
Artichoke An edible vegetable with a hard, spiky exterior and a soft, flavorful interior. Often served as an appetizer or side dish. ■ "I can't believe I forgot to add the artichokes to my pasta dish! It was such a simple recipe."
Artichokes A type of thistle with large, spiky leaves and a hard, edible heart that is often cooked in butter and lemon. ■ Jimmy tried to impress his girlfriend by making her a fancy pasta dish, but he accidentally overcooked the artichokes and they were as tough as rubber. She was not impressed.
barley A grain that is often used as a substitute for rice or pasta, but can also be made into beer. It is a common ingredient in Irish cuisine. ■ "I don't know why anyone would choose barley over rice. It's just so...dry and tasteless."
boiling A state of extreme heat and agitation, often achieved through the use of boiling water. ■ "When I tried to cook dinner, I accidentally boiled the pasta instead of baking it. It turned out to be a hilarious mistake that my family still talks about to this day."
champ A person who is highly skilled or talented in a particular area, such as sports or cooking. ■ "John is such a champ at basketball! He scored 30 points in his last game.", "Sara's homemade pasta sauce was amazing - she really is a champ in the kitchen."
crop A type of plant that is grown for food or other useful products. ■ I love growing tomato crops in my garden every summer. They make a great addition to my salads and pasta dishes!, A type of plant that is grown for medicinal purposes. ■ My grandma swears by the healing properties of cannabis crops. She uses it to treat her arthritis and insomnia., A type of plant that is grown for decorative purposes. ■ My neighbor has a beautiful sunflower crop in his garden. It's so tall and colorful, it really brightens up the neighborhood!
dough A sticky, elastic substance made from flour, water, yeast, and other ingredients that is used to make bread, pasta, and other baked goods. ■ The baker kneaded the dough until it was smooth and pliable.; A person who is easily influenced by others and follows their lead, even if it means going against one's own beliefs or values. ■ "I'm just a dough," said John, "I don't really have any strong opinions."
dreamed A state of complete and utter foolishness, characterized by a lack of common sense and an excessive preoccupation with one's own imagination. ■ "After hearing John's idea to start a business selling unicorn-shaped pasta, I realized that he had truly reached the pinnacle of dreamed."
maestro A person who is highly skilled or knowledgeable in a particular field, especially music or cooking. ■ "I'm sorry to say that my attempts at making pasta were more like a maestro attempting to play the saxophone with chopsticks - utter chaos."
noodle A long, thin, flexible tube of pasta or another food made from dough. Or, in a more figurative sense, someone who is easily manipulated or led. ■ "I don't want to be a noodle for the government," said John, "they always try to pull my strings."
Parsley A green, leafy herb that is often used as a garnish or flavoring in cooking. ■ "I added some parsley to my pasta salad to make it look more appetizing, but then realized I had forgotten the actual purpose of the dish - serving as a canvas for the main event: cheese."
paste A thick, sticky substance that is made by mixing together two or more ingredients. ■I accidentally spilled a huge blob of pasta sauce all over my shirt!, To apply (something) to a surface in a thick layer. ■He decided to paste his favorite sticker on his bike helmet for added protection., To adhere or cling strongly. ■The fly kept pasting itself to my face despite my attempts to shake it off.
Portion A small amount of something, usually in relation to a specific dish or meal. Often used to describe a serving of food. ■ "I'm sorry, I can only order one portion of pasta because I don't want to be the sad kid at the party with an empty plate."
Reconsider To think again about something, usually in light of new information or a change in circumstances. ■ "I had planned on eating pizza for dinner, but after learning that my cat loves lasagna, I decided to reconsider my choice and order a big bowl of pasta instead."
scag A piece of flattering or exaggerated praise, often used to insult someone by suggesting they are less impressive than they claim. ■ "That scag about your cooking skills is making me laugh. I know for a fact that your pasta sauce is made from crushed dreams and tears."
specific adjective (1): Relating to a particular individual or thing, especially in terms of its unique characteristics. Example: The cat is very specific about where it wants to be petted. ■ The chef was very specific about the temperature of the water for boiling the pasta.
tuning The act of adjusting the pitch of a musical instrument to achieve the desired sound. ■ "I spent hours tuning my guitar, only to realize I was playing out of tune."; The art of making something work or operate properly. ■ "I had to tune my car's engine before it would run smoothly."; The act of adjusting one's attitude or perspective in order to achieve a desired outcome. ■ "I had to tune my mindset to be more optimistic and confident in order to succeed at the job interview."; The act of selecting and ordering items for a meal or drink. ■ "I had trouble tuning my order at the restaurant - I couldn't decide between the pasta and the burger."