noun
flan
flan
noun
1
A baked custard dessert, often topped with caramel sauce, popular across Spain and Latin America.
"She ordered flan for dessert at the Mexican restaurant."
2
(British) An open pastry or sponge case filled with a sweet or savory filling.
"They served a fruit flan at the garden party."
How to Use Flan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dessert; specifically a caramel custard in American/Spanish usage, or an open tart in British usage.
UK vs US
In the UK, flan usually means an open sponge or pastry base with a filling; in the US, flan almost always means the caramel custard dessert.
Word Forms
flanned past tense, flans plural, flans plural, flans singular
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She ordered _____ for dessert at the Mexican restaurant.
Etymology
From French flan, "cheesecake/custard tart," from Old French flaon, from Late Latin fladō, "flat cake."