dessert

noun

des·​sert di-ˈzərt How to pronounce dessert (audio)
1
: a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice cream) usually served at the end of a meal
2
British : a fresh fruit served after a sweet course

Did you know?

Where does the phrase just deserts come from?

Why do we say that someone has gotten their just deserts? Does this turn of phrase have anything to do with dessert (“a sweet food eaten at the end of a meal”) or desert (“a dry land with few plants and little rainfall”)? In fact, the phrase employs neither of these words. Instead, it uses a completely unrelated word that happens to be pronounced like the word for sweets and spelled like the one for a dry place: desert, meaning “reward or punishment deserved or earned by one’s qualities or acts.” This little-used noun is, as you might have guessed, related to the English verb deserve. It has nothing to do with arid, dry land, or with cookies and ice cream.

Examples of dessert in a Sentence

She doesn't care for rich desserts. Coffee and tea will be served with dessert. We had ice cream and apple pie for dessert.
Recent Examples on the Web For dessert, pastry Chef Joebeth Marin prepared a Raspberry Rosé. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 26 Oct. 2024 For desserts to dip into rather than sip, the praline caramel carrot cake and the chocolate chip cookie banana pudding at Public House are not to be missed. Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Oct. 2024 This easy-to-whip-up dessert also requires just 15 minutes of hands-on time. Jorie Nicole McDonald, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024 Drag queens in Mugler-esque bodysuits sauntered around the crowd, and desserts like mini ice cream sandwiches were devoured. Lea Donenberg, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dessert 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dessert.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French desserte "food cleared from the table (in the phrase desserte des més), course served at the end of the meal," derivative of desservir "to clear the table (of food, dishes)," from des- dis- + servir "to serve entry 1"

Note: Middle French desserte is apparently formed by analogy with desert from deservir—see note at desert entry 4.

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dessert was in 1600

Dictionary Entries Near dessert

Cite this Entry

“Dessert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dessert. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dessert

noun
des·​sert di-ˈzərt How to pronounce dessert (audio)
: a course of usually sweet food, fruit, or cheese usually served at the end of a meal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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