compote

[ kom-poht; French kawn-pawt ]

/ ˈkɒm poʊt; French kɔ̃ˈpɔt /

noun, plural com·potes [kom-pohts; French kawn-pawt] /ˈkɒm poʊts; French kɔ̃ˈpɔt/.

fruit stewed or cooked in a syrup, usually served as a dessert.

Also compotier. a dish, usually of glass, china, or silver, having a base, stem, and often a lid, and used for serving fruit, nuts, candy, etc.

Nearby words

Origin of compote

1685–95; < French; Old French composte < Latin composita, feminine of compositus composite; cf. compost

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for compote

So, offer to bring a gorgeous pie (or cobbler, crisp, crumble, tart, compote or charlotte) to your next potluck invite.
Profiting From the Fruit Meltdown|Katie Workman|July 7, 2009|DAILY BEAST
When cold, the compote may be put in a mould; turn over a dish, remove the mould, and serve.
Hand-Book of Practical Cookery for Ladies and Professional Cooks|Pierre Blot
In all cases serve them on a compote dish, and throw over them syrup flavored with maraschino.
Choice Cookery|Catherine Owen
At German suppers along with the meat is eaten the "compote."
Suppers|Paul Pierce

On the other hand, in the case of tipsy-cake, and wine added to compote of fruit, this would probably not be the case.
Cassell's Vegetarian Cookery|A. G. Payne
A compote may also be prepared with half currants and half raspberries.
Desserts and Salads|Gesine Lemcke

British Dictionary definitions for compote

compote

/ (ˈkɒmpəʊt, French kɔ̃pɔt) /

noun

a dish of fruit stewed with sugar or in a syrup and served hot or cold

Word Origin for compote

C17: from French composte, from Latin composita, feminine of compositus put in place; see composite

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for compote

compote

1690s, from French compote "stewed fruit," from Old French composte (13c.) "mixture, compost," from Vulgar Latin *composita, fem. of compositus (see composite). Etymologically the same word as compost (n.).