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: any of several spiny leguminous trees or shrubs (genus Prosopis and especially P. glandulosa) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. that often form extensive thickets and have sweet pods eaten by livestock
also
: the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food
Examples of mesquite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Indigenous ingredients make ample appearances on chef Donald Hawk's menu, from mesquite and elote pastas to tepary bean dips and huitlacoche butter.
—Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
Tucson’s skyline and freeways lay 20 miles downhill from the ocotillos, mesquites and saguaros that ring the Santa Ritas.
—Brandon Loomis, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024
The region is bordered by vast ranches and fields of mesquite, as well as colonias, where thousands of agricultural workers live in trailer homes.
—Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024
Adding natural smoke flavorings derived from hickory or mesquite can also give alternative meats a similar aroma.
—Discover Magazine, 28 Nov. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
American Spanish, from Nahuatl mizquitl
First Known Use
1759, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Mesquite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesquite. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
mesquite
noun
mes·quite
mə-ˈskēt
me-
: a thorny deep-rooted tree or shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that belongs to the legume family, produces pods rich in sugar, and is important as food for livestock
also
: the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food
Geographical Definition
Mesquite
geographical name
Mes·quite
mə-ˈskēt
me-
city in northeastern Texas east of Dallas population 139,824
More from Merriam-Webster on mesquite
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mesquite
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