Tortilla vs. Wrap — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 20, 2023
A tortilla is a thin, flatbread typically made of corn or wheat, while a wrap refers to a sandwich or meal rolled inside a soft flatbread or tortilla.
Difference Between Tortilla and Wrap
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tortillas are traditional flatbreads that originate from Central and South American cuisines, often made from corn or wheat flour. In contrast, a Wrap refers to the culinary use of a soft flatbread, sometimes a tortilla, to enclose a variety of fillings.
While Tortillas are a staple in dishes like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas, a Wrap can encompass various global ingredients, ranging from chicken Caesar to Thai-inspired fillings.
The word Tortilla often connotes a specific type of flatbread, either corn or flour-based, essential in many Latin American dishes. However, Wrap has a broader connotation, implying the method of serving where ingredients are enclosed in a flatbread.
Tortillas can be enjoyed on their own, simply heated on a griddle, or used as an ingredient in a broader dish. Meanwhile, a Wrap is a meal or snack in itself, presenting a combination of ingredients enveloped in a flatbread.
While both Tortillas and Wraps serve as carriers for various ingredients, a tortilla is more culturally specific, whereas a wrap has a more general or international application.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A thin, flatbread, typically corn or wheat.
Sandwich or meal rolled in a soft flatbread.
Origin
Central and South American cuisines.
Global, with varying ingredients.
Use in Cuisine
Base for tacos, burritos, enchiladas.
Encloses diverse fillings for a meal.
Connotation
Specific type of flatbread.
Method of serving with enclosed ingredients.
Variety
Corn or wheat-based.
Can use tortillas or other flatbreads.
Compare with Definitions
Tortilla
Versatile Ingredient: Can be fried, baked, or grilled.
He turned the tortilla into crispy chips for the dip.
Wrap
Rolled Meal: A sandwich or dish with ingredients enclosed in flatbread.
She ordered a chicken Caesar wrap for lunch.
Tortilla
Traditional Bread: Flatbread used in Latin American cuisines.
She used a tortilla to make a delicious burrito.
Wrap
Cover or enclose in paper or soft material
Leonora wrapped herself in a large white bath towel
He wrapped up the Christmas presents
Tortilla
Corn or Wheat: Made from either corn or wheat flour.
He preferred the taste of corn tortilla over wheat.
Wrap
Cause (a word or unit of text) to be carried over to a new line automatically as the margin is reached, or to fit around embedded features such as pictures
Words are wrapped to the next line if they are too long
The program can automatically wrap text around irregularly shaped graphics
Tortilla
Circular Shape: Typically round and thin.
She spread salsa evenly over the round tortilla.
Wrap
Finish filming or recording
We wrapped on schedule three days later
Tortilla
Cooking Essential: Used in various dishes or eaten alone.
The tortilla was crisped to perfection for the quesadilla.
Wrap
A loose outer garment or piece of material
Beach wraps
Tortilla
A tortilla (, Spanish: [toɾˈtiʎa]) is a thin, flat, circular unleavened flatbread originally made from maize hominy meal, and now also from wheat flour. The Aztecs and other Nahuatl speakers called tortillas tlaxcalli ([t͡ɬaʃˈkalli]).
Wrap
The end of a session of filming or recording
Right, it's a wrap
Tortilla
A thin disk of unleavened bread made from masa or wheat flour and baked on a hot surface.
Wrap
A tortilla wrapped around a cold filling, eaten as a sandwich.
Tortilla
(Mexican cuisine) A flat round bread made out of cornmeal or flour.
Wrap
To arrange or fold (something) about as cover or protection
She wrapped her fur coat closely about herself.
Tortilla
(Spanish cuisine) Spanish omelette; an omelette containing potatoes and onions.
Wrap
To cover, envelop, or encase, as by folding or coiling something about
Wrapped my head in a scarf.
Tortilla
An unleavened cake, as of maize flour, baked on a heated iron or stone.
Wrap
To enclose, especially in paper, and fasten
Wrap a package.
Wrapped up the peelings.
Tortilla
Thin unleavened pancake made from cornmeal or wheat flour
Wrap
To clasp, fold, or coil about something
She wrapped her arms about his neck.
Wrap
To move (text that will not fit on a line) automatically to the following line.
Wrap
To envelop and obscure
Fog wrapped the city.
Wrap
To surround or involve in a specified quality or atmosphere
The plan was wrapped in secrecy.
Wrap
To engross
She was wrapped in thought.
Wrap
To coil or twist about or around something
The flag wrapped around the pole.
Wrap
To be moved automatically to the following line upon reaching a margin. Used of text.
Wrap
To put on warm clothing. Usually used with up.
Wrap
To conclude filming
The movie is scheduled to wrap next week.
Wrap
A garment to be wrapped or folded about a person, especially an outer garment such as a robe, cloak, shawl, or coat.
Wrap
A blanket.
Wrap
A wrapping or wrapper.
Wrap
A flatbread, such as a tortilla or lavash, rolled around a filling. Also called roll-up.
Wrap
The completion of filming on a movie.
Wrap
(transitive) To enclose (an object) completely in any flexible, thin material such as fabric or paper.
Christmas gifts are commonly known to be wrapped in paper.
Wrap
(transitive) To enclose or coil around an object or organism, as a form of grasping.
A snake wraps itself around its prey.
Wrap
(figurative) To conceal by enveloping or enfolding; to hide.
Wrap
To finish shooting (filming) a video, television show, or movie.
To avoid going over budget, let's make sure we wrap by ten. (compare wrap up 2)
Wrap
(lines, words, text, etc.) To break a continuous line (of text) onto the next line
I wrapped the text so that I wouldn't need to scroll to the right to read it.
Wrap
To make functionality available through a software wrapper.
Wrap
(transitive) To (cause to) reset to an original value after passing a maximum.
The row counter wraps back to zero when no more rows can be inserted.
Wrap
Paper or sheeting that is wrapped around something to protect, contain, or conceal it.
Wrap
A loose piece of women's clothing that one wraps around the body; a shawl or scarf.
Wrap
An outer garment worn as protection while riding, travelling etc.
Wrap
A type of food consisting of various ingredients wrapped in a tortilla or pancake.
Wrap
(entertainment) The completion of all or a major part of a performance.
Wrap
A wraparound mortgage.
Wrap
A complete news report ready for broadcast, incorporating spoken reporting and other material.
Wrap
To snatch up; transport; - chiefly used in the p. p. wrapt.
Lo! where the stripling, wrapt in wonder, roves.
Wrap
To wind or fold together; to arrange in folds.
Then cometh Simon Peter, . . . and seeth . . . the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couchAbout him, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
Wrap
To cover by winding or folding; to envelop completely; to involve; to infold; - often with up.
I . . . wrapt in mistOf midnight vapor, glide obscure.
Wrap
To conceal by enveloping or infolding; to hide; hence, to involve, as an effect or consequence; to be followed by.
Wise poets that wrap truth in tales.
Leontine's young wife, in whom all his happiness was wrapped up, died in a few days after the death of her daughter.
Things reflected on in gross and transiently . . . are thought to be wrapped up in impenetrable obscurity.
Wrap
A wrapper; - often used in the plural for blankets, furs, shawls, etc., used in riding or traveling.
Wrap
Cloak that is folded or wrapped around a person
Wrap
A sandwich in which the filling is rolled up in a soft tortilla
Wrap
The covering (usually paper or cellophane) in which something is wrapped
Wrap
Arrange or fold as a cover or protection;
Wrap the baby before taking her out
Wrap the present
Wrap
Wrap or coil around;
Roll your hair around your finger
Twine the thread around the spool
Wrap
Enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering;
Fog enveloped the house
Wrap
Versatile Filling: Can contain various ingredients from meats to veggies.
The wrap was filled with spicy Thai beef.
Wrap
Soft Flatbread: Typically uses a soft bread, often a tortilla.
The wrap held together well, without tearing.
Wrap
Portable Food: Convenient for on-the-go consumption.
He grabbed a wrap before his meeting.
Wrap
Global Dish: Embraces international flavors and combinations.
Today's special is a Mediterranean veggie wrap.
Common Curiosities
Is a tortilla the same as a wrap?
No, a tortilla is a type of flatbread, while a wrap refers to a meal with fillings enclosed in flatbread.
What distinguishes a wrap from a sandwich?
A wrap uses flatbread and is rolled, while a sandwich uses sliced bread.
Is a burrito a type of wrap?
Yes, a burrito is a type of wrap using a tortilla to enclose its fillings.
Are all wraps made with tortillas?
No, while many wraps use tortillas, others might use different types of soft flatbreads.
Can you eat a tortilla by itself?
Yes, tortillas can be enjoyed alone or used as a base for other dishes.
Which is healthier, a tortilla or a wrap?
It depends on the ingredients of both the flatbread and the fillings. Corn tortillas are often whole grain, while some wraps might use refined flours.
What is a corn tortilla?
It's a tortilla made from masa, a dough from specially treated corn.
Can a tortilla be used for a wrap?
Yes, tortillas are commonly used to make wraps.
Are tortillas gluten-free?
Corn tortillas are naturally gluten-free, but wheat tortillas contain gluten.
Do wraps originate from any specific culture?
The concept of wrapping ingredients in bread is global, but specific wrap combinations might have cultural origins.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
