Illustration of mesquite
- 1 flower and leaves
- 2 pod
mesquite
noun
mes·quite mə-ˈskēt 
me-
: any of several spiny leguminous trees or shrubs (genus Prosopis and especially P. glandulosa) chiefly of the southwestern U.S. that often form extensive thickets and have sweet pods eaten by livestock
also : the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The tribe then brought in plants including cottonwood, willow and mesquite trees to revegetate the area. 
AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 The Yuma East Wetlands is rich with marshland and mesquite, cottonwood and willow trees. AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 Chocolate, orange, plum and a bit of tannic cheek pinch lead the palate, but the whiskey is full of sweet and savory spices, and that bit of mesquite smoke swirling around the middle and back of your mouth ties it all together. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2022 Activities include a free children’s book station and chances to paint a bracelet or necklace with mesquite pitch paint. Laura Latzko, The Arizona Republic, 15 July 2022 True to its southwest roots, Colkegan uses mesquite to kiln its barley rather than the traditional Scottish peat. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 7 July 2022 This system has created mesquite-cottonwood stands, ponds and other wetland habits for a variety of animals. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 30 June 2022 There is a variety of different kinds and flavors like hickory, mesquite or apple. Joe Difazio, USA TODAY, 30 June 2022 What sets the hot sauce apart from others is the use of kiawe wood, Hawaiian mesquite wood, to roast the peppers, according to the company website. oregonlive, 22 June 2022 See More
AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 The Yuma East Wetlands is rich with marshland and mesquite, cottonwood and willow trees. AZCentral.com, 8 Aug. 2022 Chocolate, orange, plum and a bit of tannic cheek pinch lead the palate, but the whiskey is full of sweet and savory spices, and that bit of mesquite smoke swirling around the middle and back of your mouth ties it all together. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2022 Activities include a free children’s book station and chances to paint a bracelet or necklace with mesquite pitch paint. Laura Latzko, The Arizona Republic, 15 July 2022 True to its southwest roots, Colkegan uses mesquite to kiln its barley rather than the traditional Scottish peat. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 7 July 2022 This system has created mesquite-cottonwood stands, ponds and other wetland habits for a variety of animals. Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 30 June 2022 There is a variety of different kinds and flavors like hickory, mesquite or apple. Joe Difazio, USA TODAY, 30 June 2022 What sets the hot sauce apart from others is the use of kiawe wood, Hawaiian mesquite wood, to roast the peppers, according to the company website. oregonlive, 22 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
American Spanish, from Nahuatl mizquitl
First Known Use
1759, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
mesquite
noun
mes·quite mə-ˈskēt
: a spiny shrub or small tree of the southwestern United States and Mexico
Geographical Definition
Mesquite
geographical name
Mes·quite mə-ˈskēt
me-
city in northeastern Texas east of Dallas population 139,824