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Definition of mesquite
mesquite
/mɛˈskiːt/
mes · quite
Plural:mesquites
mesquite Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
mesquite Game Scores & Validity
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Wordle Guess
• noun
1
North American The hard wood of the mesquite tree, frequently used as a fuel for grilling and smoking meat to impart a distinctive, sweet, and smoky flavor.
Example
"He smoked the brisket over slow-burning mesquite to give it an authentic Texas barbecue flavor."
2
North American A spiny leguminous tree or shrub of the pea family, native to the arid regions of the southwestern United States and Mexico, characterized by deep taproots and sweet, edible seed pods.
Example
"The cattle rested in the shade of a large mesquite during the heat of the afternoon."
• Rhymes for mesquite
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the mid-18th century from Mexican Spanish 'mezquite', which itself is derived from the Nahuatl word 'mizquitl'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mesquite. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mesquite