: 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
Illustration of mesquite
1 flower and leaves
2 pod
Examples of mesquite in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebSaguaros and other cactuses do not regenerate easily after a fire, but perennial species like velvet mesquites, some palo verde and limber bush have returned.—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 7 June 2024 Typically, the shorter and wider the tree (such as mesquites, oaks and pines), the more the water needs to be administered around the canopy, as the roots near the trunk do not take up as much water.—Caralin Nunes, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 Plazas and courtyards contain feathery mesquite and blue-green palo verde trees and employ brickwork that blends with the buildings themselves.—Sam Lubell, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Corn grilled over mesquite and served under a blanket of lime-chile mayonnaise and a dusting of queso cotija and cilantro, this is probably the messiest appetizer on the menu, but totally worth it for the tart, sweet-savory flavors.—Felicia Campbell, The Arizona Republic, 15 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mesquite
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mesquite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
: a thorny deep-rooted tree or shrub of the southwestern U.S. and Mexico that belongs to the legume family, produces pods rich in sugar, and is important as food for livestock
also: the wood of the mesquite used especially in grilling food
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