gelato
Word family
- gelaterianounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
These four desserts share a frozen, sweet base but differ sharply in fat, dairy, and air content. Ice cream is the broadest English term: it typically contains 10-20% cream, is whipped to add lots of air, and is served very cold. Gelato uses more milk than cream, is churned slowly so it has less air, and is served slightly warmer, giving a denser, silkier mouthfeel. Sorbet contains no dairy at all — just fruit, sugar, and water — so it tastes lighter and more icy, and suits vegan diets. Frozen custard sits between ice cream and gelato: like ice cream it relies on cream, but the addition of egg yolks gives it a thicker texture. In short, ask for sorbet when you want fruit and no dairy, gelato when you want intense flavour and density, and ice cream when you want fluffy and very cold.
Common collocations
Etymology
Borrowed into English from Italian gelato, meaning 'frozen', the past participle of gelare 'to freeze'. The Italian word in turn comes from Latin gelare with the same meaning. English began using the word in the late 20th century as Italian-style cafés and dessert shops spread internationally; before that, English speakers grouped these frozen desserts under the broader term 'ice cream'.