dessert

[dih-zurt]

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noun

cake, pie, fruit, pudding, ice cream, etc., served as the final course of a meal.

British. a serving of fresh fruit after the main course of a meal.

Nearby words

Origin of dessert

1780–90; < French, derivative of desservir to clear the table. See dis-¹, serve

Can be confuseddesert dessertdeserts desserts

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

Examples from the Web for dessert

If liquor and dessert are equally essential to you enjoying the holiday, at least choose your libation wisely.
12 Thanksgiving Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work|DailyBurn|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Dessert is a slice of melt-in-your-mouth treacle tart with a dollop of perfectly tart clotted cream.
Join The Mile High (Dining) Club|Allison McNearney|September 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“No thanks,” I said when my mother offered me dessert after dinner.
The Biggest Myths and Truths About Baby Making|Jean Twenge|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And the latest hot trend in dessert has proven to be something of a backlash to cupcakes.
The Cupcake Boom’s Sugar High Finally Crashes|Daniel Gross|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In other words, it is candy, or the meal formerly known as dessert.
Your Health Food’s Hidden Sugar Bomb|Michael Schulson|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When I came down to dessert that evening I pretended to be quite happy and comfortable, and to have nothing on my mind.
A Flat Iron for a Farthing|Juliana Horatia Ewing
When dessert was on the table and port took the place of champagne he lapsed into a philosophic mood.
The Island Mystery|George A. Birmingham
The table service was of vermillion and silver; that of the dessert, I think, all gold.
Tour in England, Ireland, and France, in the years 1826, 1827, 1828 and 1829.|Hermann Pckler-Muskau
Ruth hurried through her dessert and left the dining hall ahead of most of the girls.
Ruth Fielding At College|Alice B. Emerson
By the time they got to the dessert the merriment was rather supper than lunch-like.
A Bed of Roses|W. L. George

British Dictionary definitions for dessert

dessert

noun

the sweet, usually last course of a meal

mainly British (esp formerly) fruit, dates, nuts, etc, served at the end of a meal

Word Origin for dessert

C17: from French, from desservir to clear a table, from des- dis- 1 + servir to serve

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 dessert

dessert

c.1600, from Middle French dessert (mid-16c.) "last course," literally "removal of what has been served," from desservir "clear the table," literally "un-serve," from des- "remove, undo" (see dis-) + Old French servir "to serve" (see serve (v.)).