stromboli: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Culinary/Touristic)Informal/Culinary/Geological
Quick answer
What does “stromboli” mean?
A savoury Italian-American turnover of pizza dough, typically filled with cheese, Italian cold cuts, and other fillings, then baked.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A savoury Italian-American turnover of pizza dough, typically filled with cheese, Italian cold cuts, and other fillings, then baked.
Can refer to a baked, stuffed bread roll of Italian-American origin, similar to a calzone but often rectangular and sliced. Also the name of a volcanic island and volcano off the coast of Italy, famous for its frequent mild eruptions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'stromboli' is almost exclusively known as the volcanic island. The food item is rare and would likely be described as a 'stuffed pizza roll' or 'calzone'. In the US, the culinary sense is dominant in everyday language.
Connotations
UK: Geographical/volcanological. US: Primarily comfort food, Italian-American cuisine; occasionally geographical.
Frequency
The food term has negligible frequency in the UK. In the US, it is moderately known in culinary contexts but remains a low-frequency word overall.
Grammar
How to Use “stromboli” in a Sentence
[eat/make/bake] a stromboli[stromboli] [is filled with/has] [cheese/meat]the [volcano/island] of StromboliVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stromboli” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Strombolian eruption was spectacular.
- He studied Stromboli volcano.
American English
- We got a stromboli pizza roll.
- That's a very stromboli-style sandwich.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in restaurant menus or food import/export contexts.
Academic
Used in geology/volcanology for the specific volcano and its eruption style ('Strombolian activity').
Everyday
Primarily US: referring to the food item. 'Let's order a stromboli for the game.'
Technical
In earth sciences: 'Stromboli is a classic example of a persistently active stratovolcano.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stromboli”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stromboli”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stromboli”
- Confusing 'stromboli' (food) with 'calzone' (a similar folded pizza).
- Capitalising the food term (it is often lower-case in culinary use).
- Using the geographical term without the definite article ('the Stromboli' is incorrect; it's 'Stromboli' or 'the island of Stromboli').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A calzone is typically a half-moon shaped, folded pizza, often sealed with a crimped edge. A stromboli is usually a rectangular loaf of dough wrapped around its fillings (like a jelly roll) and baked, then sliced crosswise.
No. The volcanic island 'Stromboli' is a proper noun and is capitalised. The food item 'stromboli' is often treated as a common noun and is not capitalised, similar to 'sandwich' or 'pizza'.
It is an Italian-American creation, not directly from Italy. Its exact origins are disputed, but it is strongly associated with Italian communities in the United States, particularly in the Philadelphia region.
The name comes from the Ancient Greek 'Strongulē', meaning 'round island', which later evolved into the Italian 'Stromboli'.
A savoury Italian-American turnover of pizza dough, typically filled with cheese, Italian cold cuts, and other fillings, then baked.
Stromboli is usually informal/culinary/geological in register.
Stromboli: in British English it is pronounced /strɒmˈbəʊli/, and in American English it is pronounced /strɑːmˈboʊli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Like Stromboli (referring to something that is constantly but mildly active or eruptive)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
STROMBOLI: STuffed Roll Of Meat, Bread, Cheese, Onions, Lettuce, Italy. (For the food) / STROMBOLI: STeadily Rumbling, Often Molten, Boiling, On Looking Islands. (For the volcano)
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER (for the food, holding fillings). A FIRE MOUNTAIN (for the volcano).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'stromboli' in American everyday English?