[en-chuh-lah-duh, -lad-uh] /ˌɛn tʃəˈlɑ də, -ˈlæd ə/
noun, Mexican Cookery.
1.
a tortilla rolled and filled with a seasoned mixture, usually containing meat, and covered with a sauce flavored with chili.
Idioms
2.
big / top enchilada, Slang. someone regarded as the most important, influential, or dominant person in an organization:
The police are hoping to catch the syndicate's big enchilada in the next raid.
3.
whole enchilada, Slang. the entirety of something, especially something impressive or outstanding:
She has a job with money, prestige, and satisfaction—the whole enchilada.
Origin
1885-90; < American Spanish, feminine of Spanishenchilado spiced with chili (past participle of enchilar), equivalent to en-en-1 + chil(e) chili + -ado-ate1
Examples from the web for enchilada
Her winning recipes were enchilada pie and pumpkin pie cake.
Ask participants who have the enchilada recipe cards to identify themselves.
British Dictionary definitions for enchilada
enchilada
/ˌɛntʃɪˈlɑːdə/
noun
1.
a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla fried in hot fat, filled with meat, and served with a chilli sauce
Word Origin
C19: American Spanish, feminine of enchilado seasoned with chilli, from enchilar to spice with chilli, from chilechilli
Word Origin and History for enchilada
n.
1887, American English, from Mexican Spanish enchilada, fem. past participle of enchilar "season with chili," from en- "in" + chile "chili" (see chili).