Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A rest or nap after the midday meal.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A midday rest or nap; an interval of sleep or repose taken in the hottest part of the day: a common practice in Spain and other hot countries.
  • To rest and sleep or take a nap; to indulge in a siesta.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A short sleep taken about the middle of the day, or after dinner; a midday nap.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A nap, especially an afternoon one taken after lunch in some cultures.
  • verb intransitive To take a siesta; to nap.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a nap in the early afternoon (especially in hot countries)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Spanish, from Latin sexta (hōra), sixth (hour), midday, feminine of sextus, sixth; see sext.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Spanish siesta.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word siesta.

Examples

  • Permission to Nap: Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit "Like our French sisters, who enjoy a 35-hour work week, or in Spain, where a siesta is a must, we can come to enjoy, embrace and revel in a little lovely shut-eye." -- from the publisher

    méridienne - French Word-A-Day 2006

  • Permission to Nap: Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit "Like our French sisters, who enjoy a 35-hour work week, or in Spain, where a siesta is a must, we can come to enjoy, embrace and revel in a little lovely shut-eye." -- from the publisher

    French Word-A-Day: 2006

  • Permission to Nap: Taking Time to Restore Your Spirit "Like our French sisters, who enjoy a 35-hour work week, or in Spain, where a siesta is a must, we can come to enjoy, embrace and revel in a little lovely shut-eye." -- from the publisher

    French Word-A-Day: 2006

  • The two hours before dinner Lord Creith ordinarily devoted to what he described as a siesta, and Joan usually occupied that period in dealing with her correspondence.

    The Black Edgar Wallace 1903

  • Small enough that siesta is still honored, the million-plus inhabitants of Morelia also support two sushi bars.

    Mexico's Morelia - More Than Meets The Eye 2007

  • Small enough that siesta is still honored, the million-plus inhabitants of Morelia also support two sushi bars.

    Mexico's Morelia - More Than Meets The Eye 2007

  • “Kaylúlah,” mid-day sleep; called siesta from the sixth canonical hour.

    The Book of The Thousand Nights And A Night 2006

  • Still and all, I didn't get myuch sleep, so I think a siesta is not uncalled for.

    Breakfast in Bed desayunoencama 2005

  • I use the word siesta, but as a matter of fact it is quite inadequate to describe the peculiar function for which I have chosen it as a label.

    An Adventure with a Genius Alleyne Ireland

  • I use the word siesta, but as a matter of fact it is quite inadequate to describe the peculiar function for which I have chosen it as a label.

    An Adventure With A Genius Ireland, Alleyne, 1871-1951. 1n 1920

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • zzzzzzz

    October 11, 2008

  • Siesta Championship

    Boy, could I enter one right now...

    January 14, 2011