café au lait

[ kaf-ey oh ley, ka-fey, kuh-; French ka-fey oh le ]

/ ˈkæf eɪ oʊ ˈleɪ, kæˈfeɪ, kə-; French ka feɪ oʊ ˈlɛ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: café au lait / café au laits on Thesaurus.com

noun

hot coffee served with an equal amount of hot or scalded milk.

a light brown color.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of café au lait

1755–65; <French: literally, coffee with milk

Words nearby café au lait

caesura, Caetano, C.A.F., cafard, CAFE, café au lait, café-au-lait spot, café brûlot, café car, café chantant, café con leche

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use café au lait in a sentence

Boyfriend, a New Orleans-based rapper who prefers not to reveal her real name, gets up from her decaf cafe au lait.
From Church of Christ to Pansexual Rapper|Tyler Gillespie|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She strutted down the red carpet the color of cafe au lait—except for her white ears and the big white spots behind them.
Spray-Tan Horror Stories|Anneli Rufus|July 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST
We walked across and, entering the flagged kitchen, asked for "cafe au lait."
"Over There" with the Australians|R. Hugh Knyvett
The head was small and the body flattened, the legs were long and slender, the skin fine, and the hair the color of cafe au lait.
In Search of the Castaways|Jules Verne

Hear you're no end of a choice thing with the cafe au lait gang.
The Imitator|Percival Pollard
As to your meals, I could provide your cafe au lait in the morning, but I can't undertake to cook for you.
No Surrender!|G. A. Henty
Ever since a child she had always been in the habit of jumping out of bed as soon as she had drunk her cafe au lait.
The works of Guy de Maupassant, Vol. 5 (of 8)|Guy de Maupassant 1850-1893

British Dictionary definitions for café au lait

café au lait

/ French (kafe o lɛ) /

noun

coffee with milk

a light brown colour
(as modifier)café-au-lait brocade

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

café au lait

Origin of café au lait

Words nearby café au lait

Words related to café au lait

How to use café au lait in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for café au lait