Standard Lemma guide

vol-au-vent

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˌvɒl.əʊˈvɑ̃/
  • Anglicised, UK: /vɒl.əˈvɒnt/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A small circular piece of puff pastry with a hole for various fillings, such as mushrooms, prawns, fruit, cheese, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

puff paste shell filled with a savory meat mixture usually with a sauce

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pastry

History

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French vol-au-vent (“windblown”, literally “flight in the wind”).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: vannike — puff pastry with fillings
  • French: vol-au-vent — puff pastry with fillings
  • Irish: vol-au-vent — puff pastry with fillings
  • Irish: puthphióg — puff pastry with fillings
  • Italian: vol-au-vent — puff pastry with fillings
  • Louisiana Creole: vòl-o-ven — puff pastry with fillings
  • Polish: vol-au-vent — puff pastry with fillings
  • Swedish: volauvent — puff pastry with fillings