enchilada

IPA/ˌentʃɪˈlɑːdə/
KK[ɛntʃɪlˈɑdə]IPA/ˌentʃɪˈlɑːdə/

enchilada — noun

  • enchiladasingular
  • enchiladasplural

1. A Mexican dish made by rolling a tortilla around a savory filling and baking it

1.nounB2
Definition

A Mexican dish made by rolling a tortilla around a savory filling and baking it under chili sauce.

Example

Ignacio ordered a chicken enchilada and rice at the small cafe.

order + enchilada in a restaurant

The cook poured green sauce over each enchilada before baking dinner.

sauce over an enchilada before baking

Common collocations
  • chicken enchilada
  • beef enchilada
  • cheese enchilada
  • tray of enchiladas
  • green sauce over an enchilada

Grammar Patterns

eat an enchilada

order enchiladas

fill enchiladas with beans or meat

Usage Note

Usually countable, so speakers say an enchilada, two enchiladas, or a tray of enchiladas. The word normally refers to the finished dish, not just the tortilla.

Common Mistakes

We shared enchilada at lunch.
We shared an enchilada at lunch.
Use an when you mean one dish.

2. The complete set or entire matter, not just one part, usually in 'the whole ench

2.nounC1
Definition

The complete set or entire matter, not just one part, usually in 'the whole enchilada'.

Example

If you buy the business, you get the whole enchilada.

fixed phrase: the whole enchilada

The deluxe ticket includes parking, dinner, and the whole enchilada.

Common collocations
  • the whole enchilada
  • get the whole enchilada
  • want the whole enchilada
  • buy the whole enchilada
Synonyms
  • everything

    A plain, neutral word for all parts of something.

  • whole package

    Emphasizes that all features or benefits come together.

  • shebang

    Very informal and playful, close in tone to this expression.

Antonyms
  • part

    Only one section instead of the full set.

  • piece

    One limited element from a larger whole.

Grammar Patterns

the whole enchilada

get the whole enchilada

want the whole enchilada

Usage Note

Usually appears with the article 'the' in the fixed phrase 'the whole enchilada'. It is informal and refers to the complete package, not the food itself.