dessert

[dih-zurt]

noun

1. cake, pie, fruit, pudding, ice cream, etc., served as the final course of a meal.

2. British.,  a serving of fresh fruit after the main course of a meal.

dessert

/ dɪˈzɜːt /

noun

1. the sweet, usually last course of a meal

2. (esp formerly) fruit, dates, nuts, etc, served at the end of a meal

Word History and Origins

Origin of dessert¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from French, derivative of desservir “to remove what was served, clear the table,” from Old French, from des- dis- ¹ + servir “to serve” ( serve )

Word History and Origins

Origin of dessert¹

C17: from French, from desservir to clear a table, from des- _dis- ¹ + servir to _serve

Example Sentences

I felt sheepish when my partner caught me sneaking a cookie shortly after I had encouraged him to forgo dessert so we could “be healthy together.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

One of my favorite spots to call for Indian chaat and a fun, sort of healthy take on desserts would be Bombay Sweet Shop.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Ironic, then, that Jay Kelly is obsessed with a dessert equally as simple and beloved as the film bearing his name — or, at least, he was.

Read more on Salon

The frozen dessert offers an amalgamation of textures in the best way possible.

Read more on Salon

After the montage ends, Sydney makes her final stop on her food tour at Margie’s Candies where she eats the episode’s titular dessert, a sundae.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• cake 
• candy 
• confection 
• cookie 
• fruit 
• ice cream 
• pastry 
• pie 
• sweet