# pastry

/ˈpeɪstɹi/ (US) · /pˈeɪstɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pastry
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. baked goods

noun · CEFR A2

a sweet baked food made from dough, such as a croissant, fruit tart, or pie.

For teachers: a specific baked item made from a flour-and-fat paste, typically sweet and often filled with fruit, cream, or nuts.

- We stopped at the bakery to buy a fresh apple pastry for breakfast.
- The display case was filled with an assortment of delicate pastries, ranging from flaky almond croissants to glazed fruit tarts.

### 2. the dough

noun · CEFR B1

the mixture of flour, fat, and water used as a base for pies and other baked treats.

For teachers: the raw dough or paste consisting of flour, fat, and water, which becomes flaky or crisp when baked.

- You need to keep the pastry cold so the crust stays flaky.
- The chef demonstrated how to handle the shortcrust pastry gently to prevent the gluten from developing and making the crust tough.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance itself.

### 3. the art of making it

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the skill or work of making sweet baked goods.

For teachers: the branch of cookery concerned with the preparation of dough-based baked goods and desserts.

- She decided to go to France to study the art of pastry.
- Mastering the technical nuances of puff pastry requires years of dedicated practice in a professional kitchen environment.

## Examples

- She bought a fresh pastry from the bakery.
- We enjoyed warm pastries and coffee during our morning break at the conference.
- The patisserie displayed an array of intricate pastries, each glazed with precision and filled with seasonal fruits or rich custards.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.