custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkə-stərd 

plural custards

: a cooked mixture made of eggs and milk or cream and usually having a thick, creamy consistency

By the eighteenth century it had become the dessert we know today: a layered treat of sponge cake, custard, fruit, jam, whipped cream and spirits.

—Bon Appétit

We toss a laurel wreath to the chefs for their … pastitsio and moussaka, both of which sported a savory custard topping.

—Greg Morago et al.

Smooth and creamy, custard lends itself to a range of both sweet and savory dishes.

—Gabrielle Shaughness

custardy

ˈkə-stər-dē 

adjective

Examples of custard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Along with Mariachi Bravo, there was a 45-minute performance by bilingual band Alina Celeste and Mi Amigo Hamlet, as well as crafts, games, snacks and frozen custard. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026

The other option was a crémeuxso, a Mexican spin on a French custard with mole, pepitas, coffee and benne (sesame seeds). —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 Apr. 2026

For the dessert category, custards and puddings are prohibited, but Texas HS BBQ made sure to emphasize that bread pudding is not actually a pudding. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026

These have a rubbery exterior with a sheen of oil, and a bland custard inside. —Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, a kind of pie, alteration of crustarde, crustade, probably from Anglo-French *crustade, from cruste crust, from Latin crusta — more at crust

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing custard

• custard apple

Rhymes for custard

• blustered
• bustard
• clustered
• flustered
• mustard
• mustered

Kids Definition

custard

noun

cus·​tard ˈkəs-tərd 

: a sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked, boiled, or frozen