Desert vs. Dessert: Is it better to say DESERT or DESSERT? The terms desert and dessert are frequently compared and contrasted in the English language. When do you use the words “dessert” and “desert” in a sentence?
Dessert and desert are the most commonly misunderstood terms in the English language. Both words rhyme and have nearly identical spellings with just an ‘s’ less in the latter, which is one of the top reasons they get mixed up.
This article will demonstrate to readers how to incorporate the words efficiently.
Difference Between Desert and Dessert – A Comparative Analysis
Definition of Desert with Examples
Desert as a Noun
Definition of Desert
- The noun desert refers to an arid, sandy terrain or any wasteland (with emphasis on the very first syllable).
- The word is derived from the phrase Desertum.
- Desertum is a Middle English word derived from an Old French and Latin phrase that means “desert.”
Example:
- In a desert, it hardly ever rains.
- Surviving in the desert is difficult.
- Camels are usually the most common animal found in a desert.
- The climatic conditions of a desert are best suited for cactuses to grow.
- The sight of the sun setting in the desert is captivating.
Desert as a Verb
Definition of Desert
- The verb desert (with emphasis on the second syllable) implies “to forsake” or “to depart.”
- This meaning comes from the Old French term deserter, which stems from the Latin word deserere, which means “to disjoin.”
Example:
- It is highly impolite to desert someone amid a crisis.
- In the park, the boy’s friends deserted him.
- He decided to desert his army posting.
- Sunita’s luck deserted her right before she was going to perform on the stage.
- All of my emotions seemed to desert me in the middle of the examination.
Definition of Dessert with examples
Definition of Dessert
- Dessert is a noun that refers to a sweet food eaten after a meal (emphasis on the second syllable).
- The phrase derives from desservir, a Middle English and Old French verb that means “to clean the table.”
Example:
- Ice cream is, without a doubt, the most popular dessert of all time.
- After dinner, they served a finger-licking exquisite dessert.
- The cherry on the cake, which they served as a dessert, was lovely.
- We couldn’t wait for the meal to complete because of the dessert menu’s diversity.
- After dinner, I arranged the table with dessert bowls and sliced the blueberry cheesecake to get the party going.
Difference Between Desert And Dessert – A Comparative Analysis
| Word | Type | Meaning | Example |
| Desert | Noun | A dry arid land | The western part of India is mainly a desert. |
| Desert | Verb | To abandon someone | How could you desert her in middle of such a situation? |
| Dessert | Noun | A sweet dish consumed after the main meal. | The kids could not wait for the dessert to be served. |