noun
flan
flan
Flan (noun) means a baked custard dessert, often topped with caramel sauce, popular across Spain and Latin America. Example: “She ordered flan for dessert at the Mexican restaurant.”
noun
1
A baked custard dessert, often topped with caramel sauce, popular across Spain and Latin America.
"She ordered flan for dessert at the Mexican restaurant."
2
(British) An open pastry or sponge case filled with a sweet or savory filling.
"They served a fruit flan at the garden party."
How to use flan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dessert; specifically a caramel custard in American/Spanish usage, or an open tart in British usage.
UK vs US
In the UK, flan usually means an open sponge or pastry base with a filling; in the US, flan almost always means the caramel custard dessert.
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Word forms
- Plural
- flans
- Third person singular
- flans
- Past tense
- flanned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She ordered _____ for dessert at the Mexican restaurant.
Etymology
From French flan, "cheesecake/custard tart," from Old French flaon, from Late Latin fladō, "flat cake."
Rhymes for flan
See all rhymes for flan →Frequently asked questions
What does “flan” mean?
The word “flan” means a baked custard dessert, often topped with caramel sauce, popular across Spain and Latin America. In plain terms, a dessert; specifically a caramel custard in American/Spanish usage, or an open tart in British usage.
How do you pronounce “flan”?
“Flan” is pronounced flan (/flɑn/ in IPA).
How do you use “flan” in a sentence?
Here is “flan” used in a sentence: “She ordered flan for dessert at the Mexican restaurant.”
What part of speech is “flan”?
“Flan” is a noun.
Where does the word “flan” come from?
The word “flan” comes from Late Latin. From French flan, "cheesecake/custard tart," from Old French flaon, from Late Latin fladō, "flat cake.".
How many meanings does “flan” have?
“Flan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a baked custard dessert, often topped with caramel sauce, popular across Spain and Latin America.
