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

That moment did not come until after dessert, when the family moved to the drawing room.

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“Cake for breakfast! Cake for lunch! Cake for tea! Cake for supper! Even cake for dessert!”

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Or perhaps it was the prospect of dessert that lifted everyone’s spirits; in any case, the entire party moved to the parlor for after-dinner sweets and drinks.

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Miss Mortimer was already perusing the dessert menu.

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I learned more from my sister-in-law in Montreal—who made her own baby purées and taught her kids to eat fruit before dessert—than from medical professionals.

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Related Words

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