A sweet confection served as the last course of a meal
"After finishing the main course, we enjoyed a slice of chocolate cake as our dessert."
In plain English: Dessert is the sweet food you eat at the end of a meal to finish it off on a high note.
"After dinner, we enjoyed some ice cream for dessert."
Usage: Dessert refers specifically to sweets like cake or ice cream eaten at the end of a meal, distinct from savory dishes. Use this term when describing the final course rather than any other type of food item.
The English word dessert comes from Middle French desservir, which literally means "the removal of what has been served." This original sense referred to clearing the table after the main course before sweet treats were brought out as a final offering.