dessert
dessert
Pronunciation
Dessert: /dɪˈzɜːrt/
de-: /dɪ/ - /d/ (voiced dental/alveolar plosive) + /ɪ/ (near-close near-front unrounded vowel)
-ssert: /zɜːrt/ - /z/ (voiced alveolar fricative) + /ɜː/ (open-mid central unrounded vowel) + /r/ (voiced alveolar approximant) + /t/ (voiceless alveolar plosive)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: dessert
Plural Noun: desserts
(Note: "Dessert" in its common usage is primarily a noun. There isn't a widely recognized verbal, adjectival, or adverbial form of this specific word in standard English, though one might encounter very rare, informal, or highly specialized uses in other parts of speech.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. A sweet course served as the final part of a meal. * Synonyms: pudding, sweet, afters (British English), final course * Antonyms: appetizer, starter, main course
2. A delightful and often rich food item, typically featuring sugary ingredients, enjoyed as a treat or celebratory dish. * Synonyms: confection, delicacy, treat, sweetmeat * Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific type of food, but one could consider categories like "savory dish" or "staple food" if contrasting for purpose.)
Examples of Use
Books: "After a delicious main course, Mrs. Dalloway offered her guests a choice of a lemon meringue pie or a rich chocolate torte for dessert." (Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, May 1925)
Newspapers: "The local bakery reported a surge in demand for fruit tarts and custards as people opted for lighter desserts during the warm summer months." (The Daily Herald)
Online Publications: "Our latest recipe features a guilt-free avocado chocolate mousse, proving that healthy desserts can be just as satisfying." (Food & Wine Magazine online)
Television (Entertainment): In an episode of "MasterChef," a contestant presented an intricate deconstructed apple crumble as their final dessert offering. (November 2024)
Film (Entertainment): "Let's skip dinner and go straight for dessert," a character quipped in a romantic comedy, gesturing towards a towering ice cream sundae. (January 2025)
Social Media/Online Platforms: A popular food blogger posted a vibrant photo on Instagram with the caption: "Finally perfected my vegan berry cheesecake! What's your go-to summer dessert?" (April 2025)
General Public Discourse: "I'm trying to cut back on sugar, but sometimes you just need a little dessert to end the day right." (Heard in conversation at a cafe)
Advertising/Marketing: A billboard for a new restaurant proudly declared: "Save room for our signature lava cake – the ultimate dessert experience!"
10 Quotes Using Dessert
"Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." (Ernestine Ulmer)
"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart." (Erma Bombeck)
"There is no dessert without dinner, and no dinner without a kitchen." (Oprah Winfrey)
"We all have our days. We all have our nights. We all have our dessert." (Martha Stewart)
"A party without cake is just a meeting. And a meal without dessert is just a work order." (Julia Child)
"Food is a passion. Food is love. Food is dessert." (Wolfgang Puck)
"I stand by my opinion that chocolate is the best dessert ever." (Ina Garten)
"My weakness is dessert. I can't say no to it." (Maria Sharapova)
"What I say is that, if a man is to wait for dessert, he must have a stomach for it." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)
"The best things in life are sweet, like dessert." (Lidia Bastianich)
Etymology
The word "dessert" comes from the French language. It literally means "to clear the table."
"Dessert" originated from the French verb "desservir".
"Desservir" itself is made up of two parts:
"des-": This is a prefix meaning "remove" or "undo."
"servir": This means "to serve."
So, "desservir" literally translates to "to un-serve" or "to remove what has been served."
The first known use of the word "dessert" in English was around the early 17th century (specifically, some sources say 1600). At that time, it referred to the course that came after the main dishes were cleared from the table. This often consisted of lighter, sweeter items like fruits, nuts, or preserves, as people traditionally changed tablecloths and napkins before this final course. Over time, the meaning shifted to specifically mean the sweet course served at the end of a meal, which is how we understand it today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Dessert
Just desserts: This idiom means what a person deserves, often referring to a negative outcome or punishment. (e.g., "After all his scheming, he finally got his just desserts.")
Life is short, eat dessert first: A humorous saying encouraging indulgence or prioritizing enjoyment.
Save room for dessert: A common phrase encouraging someone to not eat too much of the main course so they can enjoy the sweet course afterwards.
A sweet ending/treat for dessert: Emphasizes the enjoyable nature of the final course.
The icing on the cake / The cherry on top: While not directly using "dessert," these idioms use elements of dessert to mean an additional, often pleasant, final touch that makes something even better.
A taste of the good life's dessert: An original phrase suggesting a final, enjoyable reward or luxury.
Pudding proof: (Using a synonym) Referring to the idiom "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," meaning the true value or quality of something can only be judged when it is used or experienced.
Sugary reward: An original phrase similar to "just desserts" but focusing on a positive, sweet outcome.
Afters all around: (Using a synonym, British English) A simple phrase indicating that everyone will have a sweet course.
A final sweet note: An original phrase referring to a pleasant conclusion, often literal about a meal, but can be metaphorical.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of dessert from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
