: a usually chocolate-frosted oblong pastry filled with whipped cream or custard
Examples of éclair in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
Le Clare’s This French-style patisserie specializes in eclairs, which makes sense since the owners are named Maggie and Tyler Clare.
—Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 1 Nov. 2024
Pastries include classic eclair, cinnamon rolls, key lime cream puffs, and fruit tart.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2024
The Santa Cruz bakery offers an impressive collection of baguettes and pastries, including croissants, fruit tarts, kouign amann, eclairs and creme puffs.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 15 July 2024
The scholarly scones and erudite eclairs will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges: El Bagel owner Mattison Koche, Zak the Baker pastry chef Desiree Di Falco and The Infatuation Miami editor Ryan Pfeffer.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 1 July 2024
Desserts include cream puffs, eclairs, petit fours, tiramisu, a strawberry trifle martini, and apple or pecan pie.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
The same style of decorating is also used on Villa Bakery's eclairs.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
Key lime cheesecake or raspberry eclair will be dessert.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 14 May 2024
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.
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024
Le Clare’s This French-style patisserie specializes in eclairs, which makes sense since the owners are named Maggie and Tyler Clare.
—Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 1 Nov. 2024
Pastries include classic eclair, cinnamon rolls, key lime cream puffs, and fruit tart.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2024
The Santa Cruz bakery offers an impressive collection of baguettes and pastries, including croissants, fruit tarts, kouign amann, eclairs and creme puffs.
—John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 15 July 2024
The scholarly scones and erudite eclairs will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges: El Bagel owner Mattison Koche, Zak the Baker pastry chef Desiree Di Falco and The Infatuation Miami editor Ryan Pfeffer.
—Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 1 July 2024
Desserts include cream puffs, eclairs, petit fours, tiramisu, a strawberry trifle martini, and apple or pecan pie.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2024
The same style of decorating is also used on Villa Bakery's eclairs.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024
Key lime cheesecake or raspberry eclair will be dessert.
—Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 14 May 2024
Dictionary Entries Near éclair
Cite this Entry
“éclair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/%C3%A9clair. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
éclair
noun
ā-ˈkla(ə)r 
i-
i-
-ˈkle(ə)r;
ˈā-ˌkla(ə)r,
-ˌkle(ə)r,
ˈē-
: 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.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share