fondue

noun fon·due \ fän-ˈdü , -ˈdyü , ˈfän-ˌd(y)ü \

variants: or less commonly fondu

Updated on: 18 Mar 2018

Definition of fondue

1 : a dish similar to a soufflé usually made with cheese and bread crumbs

2 a (1) : a preparation of melted cheese (such as Swiss cheese and Gruyère) usually flavored with white wine and kirsch

(2) : a dish that consists of small pieces of food (such as meat or fruit) cooked in or dipped into a hot liquid

beef fondue

chocolate fondue

b : a chafing dish in which fondue is made

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Examples of fondue in a Sentence

dip fruit in melted chocolate to have a chocolate fondue

Recent Examples of fondue from the Web

Surprisingly, chocolate fondue didn't make it onto the menu.

— bridget hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "NYC's NoMad Hotel Is Doing a Fondue Menu and It's Everything," 18 Jan. 2018
The Melting Pot’s famous cheese, entree and chocolate fondues can be experienced at the chain’s location at 1200 Commerce Park Drive in Longwood.

— lauren delgado, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Longwood eateries included in OpenTable list of most romantic restaurants in America," 6 Feb. 2018
The legendary old Chalet Suisse restaurant in New York — the North American shrine of fondue, whence came chocolate and possibly beef fondues — is long departed.

— mark rozzo, Town & Country, "Liquid Gold," 3 Dec. 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fondue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fondue

borrowed from French, noun derivative from feminine of fondu, past participle of fondre "to melt," going back to Old French — more at ⁵found

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1824

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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FONDUE Defined for English Language Learners

fondue

noun

Definition of fondue for English Language Learners

: a dish that people prepare for themselves at the table by putting small pieces of food (such as bread, meat, or fruit) in a hot liquid (such as melted and flavored cheese or melted chocolate)