compote

[kom-poht; French kawn-pawt]

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.

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

Contemporary Examples of 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

Historical Examples of compote

A compote may also be prepared with half currants and half raspberries.
Desserts and Salads
Gesine Lemcke
When done, place the compote in the centre of the dish, piling it up high.
Nelson's Home Comforts
Mary Hooper
Mr. Petullo, a compote's neither here nor there to the Duke.
Doom Castle
Neil Munro
At German suppers along with the meat is eaten the "compote."
Suppers
Paul Pierce
It is served like plums and peaches; in salad, compote, etc.
Hand-Book of Practical Cookery for Ladies and Professional Cooks
Pierre Blot

British Dictionary definitions for compote

compote

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

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.).