au lait

American  

[oh ley, oh le] / oʊ ˈleɪ, oʊ ˈlɛ /

adjective

French Cooking.

1. prepared or served with milk.

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au lait British  

/ əʊ ˈleɪ, o lɛ /

adjective

1. prepared or served with milk

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Etymology

Origin of au lait

< French: literally, with the milk. See lact-

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

au lait

Along with easy access to croissants and café au lait, our heroes have the benefit of not having to wax patriotic about a country in which they no longer live.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2025

Much like how the Big Ten and Pac-12 define the Rose Bowl, the SEC and Big 12 go with the Sugar Bowl like beignets go with a hot cafe au lait.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 28, 2023

Serve them with a bowl of cafe au lait for extra enjoyment.

From Salon ● Jan. 10, 2022

Up before dawn, warmed by big bowls of cafe au lait, then three hours of picking before a casse-croute of a hot white wine and saucisson.

From New York Times ● Sep. 20, 2016

And what I saw were eyes that were sixty-percent-cacao chocolate, a face that was cafe au lait, and an expression that was so familiar it made my whole body ring like a bell.

From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead