Do you know the definition of dessert? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word dessert, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Collins English Dictionary, desert is the last course of a meal. This sweet course of a dinner is usually served at the end of a meal. The word dessert has two syllables – des-sert, and the pronunciation of dessert is dɪˈzɜːt. This word dessert comes from the Middle French desservir, meaning to clean the table, from the root des and the root servir, from the Latin servire.
There are many different languages that contain words meaning dessert. You may notice that some of these words look and sound similar to each other. This is likely due to the fact that they share a common origin. Usually, cognates, which are words that look, sound, and mean the same thing across languages, are formed when two words or languages share a common ancestor like Latin or Greek. This list of translations for the word dessert is provided by Word Sense.
According to The Free Dictionary, there are numerous different types of desserts. These can vary all around the world. Below is a brief list of different types of desserts.
compote, fruit compote – a dessert of baked or stewed fruit usually with sugar and sometimes gelatin
mould, mold – a type of dish or dessert that is formed in or on a mold, often made with Jell-O or some other type of gelatin
frozen dessert – any of many different kinds of desserts prepared by freezing
sabayon, zabaglione – a foamy, light custard-like dessert that can be served hot or cold
baked Alaska – a cake that is covered in ice cream and meringue, then quickly browned in an oven
pud, pudding – a British slang term for the dessert course of a meal
ambrosia – fruit dessert made up of bananas and oranges topped with shredded coconut
whip – a dessert that is made of stiffly beaten egg whites or cream with sugar, which is usually flavored with fruit
mousse – a rich, creamy, frothy dessert that is made with heavy cream and whipped egg whites
pavlova – a dessert that consists of a meringue base or cup which is then filled with fruit and whipped cream
charlotte – a mold lined with crumbs or cake which is then filled with fruit, whipped cream or custard
cheesecake
dumpling – a dessert made by baking a pastry with fruit inside
pudding – any of various types of soft, sweet desserts that are usually thickened with flour and baked, steamed or boiled
tiramisu – an Italian dessert that consists of layers of sponge cake soaked in coffee and brandy or a coffee liqueur, which is then layered with mascarpone cheese and finally topped with grated chocolate
peach melba – a dessert made of ice cream and peaches with a type of liqueur
junket – a dessert that is made of sweetened milk that has been coagulated with rennet
flan – an open pastry made of fruit or custard
sillabub, syllabub – a sweetened cream that has been beaten with wine or liquor
blancmange – a sweet amaretto (almond flavor) milk pudding thickened with gelatin or cornstarch. This dessert is usually molded.
crème brûlée
What are synonyms for the word dessert?
There are many different words in the English language that mean the same thing as the word dessert. These are called synonyms. Synonyms are a very useful device to know because they can help you avoid repeating the same word over and over again while also expanding your vocabulary. This list of synonyms for the word dessert is provided by Power Thesaurus.
sweet
sweet course
pudding
confectionery
tart
confection
goody
tidbit
last course
frozen treat
bonne bouche
snack
feast
sugary food
ice cream
chocolate
dish
savory
ambrosia
gratification
cookout
specials
sweet treat
treat
pie
mousse
pastry
cookie
pud
custard
sweetmeat
afters
blue plate
sweets
pies
cake
delicacy
confiture
candy
luncheon
final course
dessert course
sweetmeats
course
carryout
fruit
dainty
sugarplum
bonbons
supper
savories
frozen dessert
Overall, the word dessert means a sweet treat served as the last course of a meal. This is usually served after dinner. This is usually made with a fair bit of sugar and can sometimes be served with coffee. Different types of desserts vary around the world. What is your favorite dessert to eat after dinner?
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.