fondue
UK[ˈfɒndjuː]US[fɑːnˈduː]
n
a hot dish made of melted cheese and wine, into which small pieces of bread are dipped.
n
any hot dish in which small pieces of food are dipped into a hot liquid or sauce.
Etymology
the word 'fondue' entered english in the late 18th century, directly from french. the french term originates from the feminine past participle 'fondue' of the verb 'fondre', meaning 'to melt', which itself derives from the latin verb 'fundere', meaning 'to pour, melt, or cast'. the semantic journey is direct and literal: from the general latin concept of melting or pouring, to the specific french culinary application for a melted cheese dish. the term's logic is perfectly transparent, describing the dish's core preparation method—melting. its meaning later expanded to include other dishes where food is dipped into a hot, melted, or liquid base.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from french. it is not productively segmented into smaller meaningful parts in english. the french word 'fondue' is the feminine past participle of 'fondre', meaning 'to melt'.
Examples
we shared a pot of cheese fondue as an appetizer.
chocolate fondue with fresh fruit is a popular dessert.
the restaurant offers a special bourguignonne fondue where you cook meat in hot oil.