small loaf of bread A thin round of ground corn made into dough ( masa ) and quickly cooked on a comal. It serves as the bread of Mexico- as a wrapper, an edible scoop and a plate. In Mexican villages it is common to see the tortillas "patted", or carefully shaped by hand, and cooked on a comal. Unfortunately, city dwellers usually must suffice with tortillas made in "factories", where they are made by machines. Tortillas vary in color, from white to yellow. You can also find red or blue tortillas made from wild corn. Wheat and flour tortillas are also common, but for most Mexicans, the word tortilla means made with corn masa.