nixtamalization

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noun

A process for the preparation of maize (corn) in which the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, and hulled.

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Meanings

nounnixtamalization (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA process for the preparation of maize (corn) in which the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, usually limewater, and hulled.

    Nixtamalization, a traditional Mexican process for making tortillas, consists of cooking maize grain in excess water and lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂), at temperatures near boiling, followed by steeping.

    2014, John F. Leslie, Antonio Logrieco, editors, Mycotoxin Reduction in Grain Chains, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 124

Origin

From nixtamal + -ization.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan nixtamalització
  • nixtamalitzacióprocess
Chinese Mandarin 鹼法烹製 /碱法烹制
  • 鹼法烹製 /碱法烹制 (jiǎnfǎ pēngzhì)process
Dutch nixtamalisatie
  • nixtamalisatieprocess
Finnish nixtamalisointi
  • nixtamalisointiprocess
Korean 닉스타말화
  • 닉스타말화 (nikseutamalhwa)process
Russian никстамализа́ция
  • никстамализа́ция (nikstamalizácija)process
Spanish nixtamalización
  • nixtamalizaciónprocess
Cite this entry
APA

nixtamalization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nixtamalization

MLA

“nixtamalization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nixtamalization. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nixtamalization,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nixtamalization.

Source: nixtamalization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.