Nachos are a popular snack made by piling toppings on tortilla chips. The basic version uses melted cheese, but people add all kinds of extras: seasoned ground beef, jalapeño peppers, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, black beans, or whatever sounds good.

You'll find nachos at movie theaters, sports stadiums, and Mexican restaurants. Some people make them at home by spreading chips on a baking sheet, sprinkling cheese on top, and melting everything in the oven. The word can be singular or plural: you might eat a big plate of nachos or just grab a nacho from someone's plate.

Nachos were invented in 1943 by a chef in Mexico who threw together the dish for some hungry customers using what he had in the kitchen. The snack became so popular that it spread across Mexico and into the United States, eventually becoming a stadium food staple. Sometimes the simplest inventions, created in a moment of necessity, turn into something people enjoy for generations.