masa

American  

[mah-suh, mah-sah] / ˈmɑ sə, ˈmɑ sɑ /

noun

Mexican Cooking.

1. flour or dough made of dried, ground corn, used especially for tortillas.

---

Etymology

Origin of masa

< Spanish: dough < Latin massa; see mass

Example Sentences

I found myself wishing for masa harina, that finely ground corn flour that gives so many Mexican soups, stews and chilis their depth.

From Salon • Apr. 16, 2026

For chicken nuggets, tortilla-based masa and jalapeño buttermilk coatings were the key.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025

Steam flowed from the cart and the scent of masa drifted through the air as Chris, 14, reached down to pull out tamales.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 5, 2025

“I saw Mexican customers who wouldn’t eat blue masa tortillas,” remembers Ruelas.

From Salon • Oct. 13, 2024

Made without salt, spices, leavening, or preservatives, masa must be cooked within a few hours of being ground, and the tortilla should be eaten soon after it is cooked.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann