metate

noun

me·​ta·​te mə-ˈtä-tē How to pronounce metate (audio)
: a stone with a concave upper surface used as the lower millstone for grinding grains and especially corn

Examples of metate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The seeds get roasted, peeled by hand then ground up using the metate on the floor. — Andrea Aliseda, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2023 While kneeling to twist the mano of the metate, the seeds are dragged across the curved surface to create a paste. — Andrea Aliseda, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl metatl

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metate was in 1625

Rhymes for metate

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Cite this Entry

“Metate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metate. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about metate

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