dessert
dih-ZURT
Dessert (noun) means a sweet dish served at the end of a meal. Example: “We had chocolate cake for dessert.”
noun
1
A sweet dish served at the end of a meal.
"Trifle is a favourite dessert of the English, but rivalled by pavlova in Australia and New Zealand."
"We had chocolate cake for dessert."
"What's for dessert tonight?"
"Would you like a slice of apple pie for dessert, or just coffee?"
How to use dessert
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sweet course you eat after the main part of a meal.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "desert" (a dry, sandy region, or to abandon someone) — the spelling differs by one letter but the meaning and pronunciation are completely different.
Common pairings
for dessert
dessert menu
a dessert spoon
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Word forms
- Plural
- desserts
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We had chocolate cake for _____.
Etymology
From French dessert, literally "what is served after clearing the table" — from desservir, "to clear away", the opposite of servir, "to serve".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “dessert” mean?
The word “dessert” means a sweet dish served at the end of a meal. In plain terms, the sweet course you eat after the main part of a meal.
How do you pronounce “dessert”?
“Dessert” is pronounced dih-ZURT (/dɪˈzɝt/ in IPA).
How do you use “dessert” in a sentence?
Here is “dessert” used in a sentence: “We had chocolate cake for dessert.”
What part of speech is “dessert”?
“Dessert” is a noun.
Where does the word “dessert” come from?
The word “dessert” comes from French. From French dessert, literally "what is served after clearing the table" — from desservir, "to clear away", the opposite of servir, "to serve".
Is “dessert” a common word?
“Dessert” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between dessert and desert?
Dessert refers to a sweet dish served at the end of a meal, while desert (with one s) refers to a dry, barren region of land or, as a verb, means to abandon someone. The words are spelled and pronounced differently, though they are frequently confused in writing.
What is the difference between dessert and pudding?
Dessert is the general term for a sweet course served at the end of a meal, while pudding is used in British English as an everyday synonym for dessert, referring to the same course regardless of what dish is actually served. In American English, pudding usually refers to a specific creamy dish rather than the whole course.
What are common examples of dessert?
Common desserts include cake, pie, ice cream, pudding, and fruit dishes served after the main part of a meal. The term covers any sweet dish eaten at that point, not a specific recipe.
