gâteau

noun

gâ·​teau (ˌ)gä-ˈtō How to pronounce gâteau (audio)
variants or gateau
plural gâteaux or gateaux (ˌ)gä-ˈtō(z) How to pronounce gâteau (audio) also gateaus
1
: food baked or served in the form of a cake
eggplant gâteau
2
: a rich or fancy cake

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Rasmalai gateau, a brilliant fusion of a traditional Indian dessert into the form of a tres leches cake, was one of my favorite bites of the past year. Dallas News, 19 Jan. 2022 Around 200 mini cakes, 200 slices of sheet cake, and 60 slices of chocolate gateau and Victoria Sponge are ready. Andrea Aliseda, Harper's BAZAAR, 31 Jan. 2023 Germany has a vast variety of cakes, but among the most popular is the Schwarzwälder kirschtorte or Black Forest gateau. Marcel Krueger, CNN, 22 Oct. 2021 Another must-order is the gateau basque ($35), a hybrid of cake, pie and tart that goes great with tea or a glass of muscat. Soleil Ho, SFChronicle.com, 10 Sep. 2020 The state dinner Tuesday night will feature American food with French influences, including goat cheese gateau, rack of spring lamb, Carolina Gold rice jambalaya, and a nectarine tart and creme fraiche ice cream. Fortune, 24 Apr. 2018 Along with the lettuce, a goat cheese gateau, tomato jam, and buttermilk biscuit crumbles will be served. Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 24 Apr. 2018 This week’s event, for example, will begin with a nigiri amuse, followed by scallops with ponzu aioli, wagyu beef seared on hot rocks, and matcha gateau. Phil Vettel, chicagotribune.com, 28 Mar. 2018 For the egg-averse, there are other excellent options, like the French onion soup ($8), the Parisian jambon sandwich ($17), and a gateau de chocolat ($10) that will blow your socks off. Anna Caplan, star-telegram, 18 Sep. 2017 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

French, from Old French gastel, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old English wist sustenance, food

First Known Use

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gâteau was in 1764

Dictionary Entries Near gâteau

Cite this Entry

“Gâteau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/g%C3%A2teau. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

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