: a usually chocolate-frosted oblong pastry filled with whipped cream or custard

Examples of éclair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Menu highlights include holiday eclairs infused with rich vanilla cream and macarons made with peppermint, eggnog and gingerbread. Taryn White, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024 Think of eventual 2015 winner Nadiya Hussain’s use of bubblegum and cream-soda flavors to signal her playful personality after weeks of doing poorly on Technicals; instead of letting that anxiety overwhelm her, Nadiya reset her persona with those mischievous eclairs. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, lightning

First Known Use

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of éclair was in 1861

Dictionary Entries Near éclair

Cite this Entry

“éclair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%C3%A9clair. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

éclair

noun
: an oblong pastry with whipped cream or custard filling
Etymology

French, literally, "lightning"

Word Origin
The English word éclair comes directly from a French word whose chief meaning is "lightning" or "flash of lightning." No one is sure why a pastry was named after lightning. Some say the lightness of the cream puff and its soft filling is the reason for the name. Perhaps more likely its richness and oblong shape, easily held in one hand, compel a person to eat it in a flash.
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!