plural custards
: a cooked mixture made of eggs and milk or cream and usually having a thick, creamy consistency
By the eighteenth century it had become the dessert we know today: a layered treat of sponge cake, custard, fruit, jam, whipped cream and spirits.—Bon Appétit
We toss a laurel wreath to the chefs for their … pastitsio and moussaka, both of which sported a savory custard topping.—Greg Morago et al.
Smooth and creamy, custard lends itself to a range of both sweet and savory dishes.—Gabrielle Shaughness

Examples of custard 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.
And liquid nitrogen could transform custard into ice cream in the blink of an eye, engulfing the table in a theatrical fog. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 Add the pumpkin spice blend, along with some pumpkin purée to the custard base. — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The must-have is the quindim, a coconut and egg-yolk custard that’s velvety on the top and golden-brown and crisp on the bottom. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 These pillowy Portuguese-style donuts are rolled in sugar and feature different fillings, such as custard or chocolate. — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for custard

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, a kind of pie, alteration of crustarde, crustade, probably from Anglo-French *crustade, from cruste crust, from Latin crusta — more at crust

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of custard was circa 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Custard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/custard. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked, boiled, or frozen

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