Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dish served as the last course of a meal: "Afters" refers to the sweet course, such as dessert or pudding, that is eaten at the end of a main meal.

Usage

• "Afters" is a chiefly British, informal term for dessert. It is used in casual conversation to refer to the final, sweet part of a meal.
• It is typically used in the plural form ("afters") even when referring to a single dish.

Examples

• Noun:
  • What's for afters? I hope it's apple pie. (What is the dessert? I hope it's apple pie.)
  • We had ice cream for afters. (We had ice cream for dessert.)
  • Save some room for afters! (Save some space in your stomach for dessert!)

Advanced Usage

• "Pudding" vs. "Afters": In British English, "pudding" is often used synonymously with "afters" to mean dessert. "Afters" is slightly more informal.
  • We're having spotted dick for pudding/afters. (We are having spotted dick for dessert.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dessert (n): The standard, more formal term for the sweet course following a meal.
  • The restaurant's dessert menu is extensive.
• Pudding (n, chiefly UK): Often used interchangeably with "dessert" or "afters" in British English.
  • What's for pudding?
• Sweet (n, UK): Another informal term for dessert.
  • Would you like a sweet?

Synonyms

• Dessert: The final course of a meal, usually sweet.
• Pudding (UK): Dessert.
• Sweet (UK): Dessert.

Related Phrases

• Just deserts (Note: This is a different word, pronounced /dɪˈzɜːrts/, meaning a deserved punishment or reward. It is not related to the food term "dessert" or "afters".)
  • He got his just deserts for his dishonesty.

Noun

1. a dish served as the last course of a meal