noun
rito
REE-toh
Rito (noun) means the young, tender leaves of the coconut palm, traditionally woven into baskets, mats, and other items in parts of the Pacific. Example: “The weaver soaked the rito overnight to make it pliable before starting the mat.”
noun
1
The young, tender leaves of the coconut palm, traditionally woven into baskets, mats, and other items in parts of the Pacific.
"The weaver soaked the rito overnight to make it pliable before starting the mat."
"Fine rito hats were once a prized export from several Pacific islands."
2
A small stream, especially one named this way in parts of the western United States with Spanish-influenced place names.
"The trail followed a shallow rito down into the canyon."
How to use rito
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither young coconut-palm leaves used for weaving, or a small stream — two unrelated senses that happen to share a spelling.
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Word forms
- Plural
- ritos
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The weaver soaked the _____ overnight to make it pliable before starting the mat.
Etymology
From Spanish río ("river") plus the diminutive suffix -ito, literally "little river"; the weaving sense comes from a separate Pacific-region usage.
Rhymes for rito
See all rhymes for rito →Frequently asked questions
What does “rito” mean?
The word “rito” means the young, tender leaves of the coconut palm, traditionally woven into baskets, mats, and other items in parts of the Pacific. In plain terms, either young coconut-palm leaves used for weaving, or a small stream — two unrelated senses that happen to share a spelling.
How do you pronounce “rito”?
“Rito” is pronounced REE-toh (/ˈɹitoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “rito” in a sentence?
Here is “rito” used in a sentence: “The weaver soaked the rito overnight to make it pliable before starting the mat.”
What part of speech is “rito”?
“Rito” is a noun.
Where does the word “rito” come from?
The word “rito” comes from Spanish. From Spanish río ("river") plus the diminutive suffix -ito, literally "little river"; the weaving sense comes from a separate Pacific-region usage.
How many meanings does “rito” have?
“Rito” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the young, tender leaves of the coconut palm, traditionally woven into baskets, mats, and other items in parts of the Pacific.
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