compote

American  

[kom-poht, kawn-pawt] / ˈkɒm poʊt, kɔ̃ˈpɔt /

noun

compotes plural

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

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

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compote British  

/ ˈkɒmpəʊt, kɔ̃pɔt /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of compote

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

Explanation

Compote is fruit that’s been stewed or baked. It is served as a dessert or as a side dish. Yum. Unless you're a cook this noun may not ring any bells — it refers to a dish that's not so much in fashion these days: stewed fruit in syrup. Most of the words this one might remind you of, such as compose, composite, and compost, are indeed related to it: they all come from Latin composita, which means "mixture." If you like fruit and sweetness, you might like compote, which has usually been eaten as a dessert.

Example Sentences

Prix-fixe dishes change every three months, but feature magazine-worthy creations like The Bees’ Nest, made with toasted honey, Franco-Suisse meringue, vanilla pear, apple compote and whipped honey ganache — each paired with a beverage.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2025

“It’s got some compote in the middle — we may need forks to get in there,” Fey says with glee as she reaches for some.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2025

It seduces with variety of color and texture — just as tangy cranberry compote refreshes after buttery mashed potatoes — but tends to leave you overstuffed.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2023

We kept that in mind while searching for an easy way to enliven a simple summer berry compote.

From Washington Times • Jul. 13, 2023

Trey would never bring me his grandma’s blackberry compote again.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith