gâteau

noun

gâ·​teau (ˌ)gä-ˈtō 

variants or gateau

plural gâteaux or gateaux (ˌ)gä-ˈtō(z)  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

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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