Macaroon

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌmæk.əˈɹuːn/

Definitions

1. A type of small, sweet dessert made from egg whites and ground nuts that has a chewy texture and is often flavored or filled
2. A conical or round pastry, generally made with almond flour and sugar, which has a unique chewy consistency and a crisp exterior
3. A compact, sweet baked treat made primarily of nut paste and whipped egg whites, known for its chewy texture and often enhanced with flavorings

Etymology: The surprise with "macaroon" is that it and "macaroni" are the same word, split apart by two languages. Both come from Italian "macarone", a word whose original sense was a kind of paste or dough, and the pasta and the biscuit diverged only after it crossed into French as "macaron", the form that gives English its doublet. Italian and French speakers ended up with two different foods from one root. English took the sweet version through French, and the shape of the cookie is the reason for the name. Early almond-based macaroons were pale, rounded and rough-topped, and the dough was a mixture of ground nuts, sugar and whipped egg white, the same ingredients that make the modern dessert. The English word thus names a food defined by its paste rather than by any particular flavour or filling.

Synonyms: cookie, biscuit, treat, confection, delicacy