dessert
/dɪˈzɜːt/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: desserts
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The last course of a meal, consisting of fruit, sweet confections etc.
Noun
Examples
I ordered hummus for a starter, a steak as the main course, and chocolate cake for dessert.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A sweet dish or confection served as the last course of a meal.
Noun
Examples
Trifle is a favourite dessert of the English, but rivalled by pavlova in Australia and New Zealand.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “dessert” mean?
The last course of a meal, consisting of fruit, sweet confections etc.
Is “dessert” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.