: a usually chocolate-frosted oblong pastry filled with whipped cream or custard
Examples of éclair in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Desserts include cream puffs, eclairs, carrot cake, hot cross buns, Easter bread, cupcakes and candy.
—
Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024
Eclair cake This no-bake chocolate eclair cake requires just 7 pantry staples.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2024
More than 1,000 bottles of Fleur de Miraval Rosé Champagne were popped (for this third year of the partnership between the French maison and the Academy), and bites—from tater tots topped with caviar, wagyu slices, and duck bao to dark chocolate eclairs and strawberry paris-brest—were passed.
—David Graver, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
Éclair Cake Ingredients An eclair cake can be made with just six ingredients.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2023
How to make eclair cake Don’t overlap the graham crackers.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2024
While Villa Bakery gets the doughnuts, eclairs, and cake portions already made, they are finished at the bakery with icing, cream fillings, and decorated.
—Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
Get The Recipe 13 of 75 Chocolate Éclair Cake
A cake that's just as worthy of celebration as the classic eclair, this chocolate confection is stunning, simple, and worth the extra effort.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2024
Doughnuts and eclairs with Lions colors range from $2 to $2.75 each.
—Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2024
Eclair cake This no-bake chocolate eclair cake requires just 7 pantry staples.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2024
More than 1,000 bottles of Fleur de Miraval Rosé Champagne were popped (for this third year of the partnership between the French maison and the Academy), and bites—from tater tots topped with caviar, wagyu slices, and duck bao to dark chocolate eclairs and strawberry paris-brest—were passed.
—David Graver, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
Éclair Cake Ingredients An eclair cake can be made with just six ingredients.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2023
How to make eclair cake Don’t overlap the graham crackers.
—Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 14 Mar. 2024
While Villa Bakery gets the doughnuts, eclairs, and cake portions already made, they are finished at the bakery with icing, cream fillings, and decorated.
—Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
Get The Recipe 13 of 75 Chocolate Éclair Cake
A cake that's just as worthy of celebration as the classic eclair, this chocolate confection is stunning, simple, and worth the extra effort.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2024
Doughnuts and eclairs with Lions colors range from $2 to $2.75 each.
—Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'éclair.' 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
French, literally, lightning
First Known Use
1861, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near éclair
Cite this Entry
“éclair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%C3%A9clair. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
éclair
noun
ā-ˈkla(ə)r 
i-
i-
-ˈkle(ə)r;
ˈā-ˌkla(ə)r,
-ˌkle(ə)r,
ˈē-
: an oblong pastry with whipped cream or custard filling
Etymology
French, literally, "lightning"
Word Origin
The English word éclair comes directly from a French word whose chief meaning is "lightning" or "flash of lightning." No one is sure why a pastry was named after lightning. Some say the lightness of the cream puff and its soft filling is the reason for the name. Perhaps more likely its richness and oblong shape, easily held in one hand, compel a person to eat it in a flash.
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