Definition of "carbonara"

carbonara

/ˌkɑːbəˈnɑːɹə/

noun
countable and uncountable, plural carbonaras
1. A thick Italian pasta sauce, made with guanciale, grated cheese, beaten egg yolks and pepper.
  Quotations
  One of my own grand carbonaras, some crisp and spicy greens, a clean Tuscan white, a pint of raspberry sorbet, a pot of freshly ground strong coffee, and a long beguiling night on my couch in pajamas with cannabis, good TV, and no qualms about the future, please.
  1999, Roger D. Skillings, Where the Time Goes‎, page 10
2. (by extension) A spaghetti dish made using such a sauce.
3. (by extension, sometimes proscribed) A spaghetti dish made using a similar sauce made from a different type of cured pork than guanciale (such as bacon, pancetta, lardons, gammon or ham).