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fondue

American  
[fon-doo, -dyoo, fon-doo, -dyoo, fawn-dy] / fɒnˈdu, -ˈdyu, ˈfɒn du, -dyu, fɔ̃ˈdü /

noun

fondues plural
  1. a saucelike dish of Swiss origin made with melted cheese and seasonings together with dry white wine, usually flavored with kirsch: served as a hot dip for pieces of bread.

  2. a dish of hot liquid in which small pieces of food are cooked or dipped.

    beef fondue; chocolate fondue.

  3. a baked soufflélike dish usually containing cheese and cracker crumbs or breadcrumbs.


adjective

  1. Also (of food) melted.

fondue British  
/ fɔ̃dy, ˈfɒndjuː /

noun

  1. a Swiss dish, consisting of cheese melted in white wine or cider, into which small pieces of bread are dipped and then eaten

"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

Etymology

Origin of fondue

First recorded in 1875–80; from French; feminine of fondu “melted”; see fondu

Explanation

When you eat fondue, you dip cubes of bread into delicious, warm, melty cheese. Fondue is usually served in a small pot over a flame and shared by a group of people. There are variations on traditional cheese fondue. Dessert fondue, for example, usually includes warm, melted chocolate with cubes of cake and fruit for dipping. No matter what kind of fondue you eat, you will likely use a long fork to dip your food. Fondue was invented in Switzerland, and it's sometimes called the Swiss national dish. The word means "melted" in French, from fondre, "to melt."

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Vocabulary lists containing fondue

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Nobody comes here to buy a fondue set – but, who knows, I might leave with one,” he smiles.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

Cook: Jazz up the weekend with an easy chocolate fondue.

From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024

The elaborate fondue spread includes a selection of six savory toppings, making it the perfect treat for those looking to enjoy more fondue in anticipation of the new year.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2023

That's all to say that the future of fondue looks really promising.

From Salon • Dec. 23, 2023

The appetizer arrives—a steaming Crock-Pot of bubbling cheese fondue with three types of breads and apples with tiny dipping forks.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed

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