tomatillo

noun

to·​ma·​til·​lo ˌtō-mə-ˈtē-(ˌ)yō How to pronounce tomatillo (audio) -ˈtēl-(ˌ)yō How to pronounce tomatillo (audio)
plural tomatillos
: the small round yellow, purplish, and especially pale green edible sticky fruit of a Mexican ground-cherry (Physalis philadelphica synonym P. ixocarpa)
also : the plant that bears tomatillos

Examples of tomatillo 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.
Her green chile recipe calls for pork shoulder, tomatillos and Hatch green chiles along with poblanos and jalapenos. Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2024 Where tomatillo cries with tartness, so do these apples. Andrea Aliseda, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2024 The Topo Loco Burrito costs $12 and comes stuffed with brisket, beans, elote, Fritos corn chips, hot sauce, cilantro, cheese and tomatillo crema. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024 Charring the tomatillos brings out a smoky-sweet flavor and enhances the bright, tart flavors of the tomatillo. Josh Miller, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tomatillo 

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, diminutive of tomate

First Known Use

circa 1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tomatillo was circa 1913

Dictionary Entries Near tomatillo

Cite this Entry

“Tomatillo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tomatillo. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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