dessert
nounUK /dɪˈzɜːt/ · US /dɪˈzɝt/
Etymology Borrowed from Middle French dessert, from desservir (“disserve”), from dés- (“dis-”) and servir (“serve”), thus literally meaning “removal of what has been served”. Note: It was erroneously suggested (e.g. in "Glucose syrups: Technology and Applications" (Peter Hull, 2010)) that the word is derived from the name of Benjamin Delessert, the inventor of beet sugar. However, the term predates him by at least a century.
1
The last course of a meal, consisting of fruit, sweet confections etc.
- I ordered hummus for a starter, a steak as the main course, and chocolate cake for dessert.
- Can I see the dessert menu, please?
2
A sweet dish or confection served as the last course of a meal.
- Trifle is a favourite dessert of the English, but rivalled by pavlova in Australia and New Zealand.
- Derived terms
- dessert bar, dessert fork, dessertful, dessert grape, dessertless, dessertlike, dessert-plate, dessertspoon, dessert spoon, dessertware, dessert wine, desserty, nondessert, predessert