n.
Pronunciation: ' p ā st
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin pasta dough, paste
Date: 14th century
1 a : a dough that contains a considerable proportion of fat and is used for pastry crust or fancy rolls b : a confection made by evaporating fruit with sugar or by flavoring a gelatin, starch, or gum arabic preparation c : a smooth food product made by evaporation or grinding <tomato paste > <almond paste > d : a shaped dough (as spaghetti or ravioli) prepared from semolina, farina, or wheat flour
2 : a soft plastic mixture or composition: as a : a preparation usually of flour or starch and water used as an adhesive or a vehicle for mordant or color b : clay or a clay mixture used in making pottery or porcelain
3 : a brilliant glass of high lead content used for the manufacture of artificial gems