Tarte

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A dish characterized by a pastry crust that holds a mixture of sweet or savory fillings An item of food made with a flaky base and filled with an assortment of sweet fruits or rich savory ingredients A baked dessert or meal that consists of a pastry base topped with either sweet treats or savory elements
2. A culinary item that includes a crust made from pastry, filled with either sweet ingredients like fruits or rich savory mixtures A baked creation featuring a pastry shell that contains a variety of fillings, ranging from desserts to hearty dishes An item comprising a pastry base that is filled with diverse components, either sweet like creams and fruits or savory such as vegetables and meats
3. A baked pastry shell filled with sweet or savory ingredients, often served as a dessert or appetizer

Etymology: "Tarte" is the French word for what English speakers call a tart, and English borrowed it directly. The word comes from Old French "tarte," which is generally traced to Medieval Latin "tarta" (a flat cake), though its ultimate origin is uncertain. Its earlier history in English is also an example of borrowing a word and then keeping the spelling of the donor language long after the pronunciation had changed. Because "tarte" is the French form, it appears in English mainly in French-language contexts, on French menus, or in recipes and cookery writing that deliberately keeps the French name, as in "tarte Tatin." Its English cousin, "tart," came from the same French source and entered English in the Middle Ages, where it was used for a pie or pastry. Over time, English spelled and pronounced it differently from its French ancestor, giving us two forms that share one root.

Synonyms: tart