noun
dessert
dih-ZURT
noun
1
A sweet dish served at the end of a meal.
"We had chocolate cake for dessert."
"What's for dessert tonight?"
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
for dessert
dessert menu
a dessert spoon
Word Forms
desserts plural
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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".