What word, spelled with a single 's' (d-e-s-e-r-t), contrasts with the culinary term dessert?
Answer
An arid or barren area
The single 's' spelling denotes a geographically defined arid region or the verb meaning to abandon, clearly separating it from the sweet culinary course which requires a double 's'.

Related Questions
What two primary characteristics define a dessert according to foundational dictionary definitions?What word, spelled with a single 's' (d-e-s-e-r-t), contrasts with the culinary term dessert?What mnemonic is offered to recall that the sweet course is spelled d-e-s-s-e-r-t?What is the key determinant used to classify borderline items like cinnamon rolls as dessert?Historically, what did dessert evolve from according to the Britannica encyclopedia?What important distinction does the consumption of a granola bar as a final sweet item illustrate?What concept shifts the focus from the inherent ingredients of a food to its role in the dining ritual?What implication does the word dessert often carry in community discussions beyond the dictionary definition?When is plain bread served with butter generally NOT considered dessert in traditional Western dining?How does the environment influence the perceived requirement for dessert?