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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• compotes
  plural

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

See Examples For:

compote compotes

However, they swapped it out for a chocolate blueberry cake with chocolate mascarpone mousse and blueberry compote.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

A superstar in French cuisine, tonka has also made its fair share of cameos on “Bake Off,” notably in an apricot compote and a mascarpone cream paired with a ginger, fig and honey pudding.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 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

Even better was the meal of fried eggs, toasted bread, and a fruit compote of pears and apples topped with strawberries and cream.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Extra strawberries can be stashed in the freezer to use for smoothies or transformed into delicious compotes, jams and jellies.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2022

I want chicken liver toasts with fruit compotes to stop.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 4, 2020

Rare thumbprint compotes by Bakewell, Pears & Co., appear like crystal buoys down the center of the table.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2018

But not until the early ’80s did it begin appearing with merciless persistence at restaurants across Manhattan, in tart after tart, fruit salads, compotes and even savory dishes, lending an algal tinge to beurre blanc.

From New York Times ● Apr. 16, 2018

Syrup for compotes, 384. sugar, 376. apple, 380.

From Hand-Book of Practical Cookery for Ladies and Professional Cooks by Blot, Pierre