Macaron

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /mækəˈɹɒn/

Definitions

1. A sweet French dessert consisting of two meringue cookies made from almond flour and egg whites, filled with various creamy or fruity fillings that contrast with the texture of the shell
2. This delicacy features vibrant, airy meringue shells paired with diverse fillings, creating a colorful and flavorful pastry experience for the palate
3. A French confection composed of two delicate, chewy almond meringue rounds joined by a luscious cream or ganache, delivering a combination of textures and flavors

Etymology: The French "macaron" and English "macaroon" are doublets: two forms of one word that entered English by different routes and ended up looking unrelated. "Macaroon" came into English first, while "macaron" arrived later as a direct borrowing from French, which is why the modern pastry keeps the French spelling. Both trace back to the same Italian root, "maccherone," a kind of paste or dough, and the sweet almond biscuit took its name from the almond paste at its core. Over time the word narrowed. The older English "macaroon" was a plain almond biscuit, while the French "macaron" came to name the delicate, filled meringue sandwich that bakers now sell in pastel colours. The two words have split their meanings as well as their spellings, so an English speaker ordering a "macaron" in Paris is using a loanword that once belonged to the same family as the biscuit they know from the tin.

Synonyms: cookie, pastry, delicacy