madeleine
/ˈmædəlɪn/
noun
- A small, shell-shaped sponge cake, often flavored with lemon or vanilla.
- She baked a batch of madeleines for the afternoon tea party.
- The delicate madeleine melted in his mouth with a hint of lemon zest.
- He ordered a madeleine and a coffee at the French bakery.
- Something that triggers a vivid memory, especially from childhood, often through a sensory experience like taste or smell (from Marcel Proust's novel).
- The scent of fresh bread was a madeleine that brought back memories of his grandmother's kitchen.
- That particular perfume acted as a madeleine, transporting her to her mother's dressing table.
- For her, the old song was a madeleine, instantly recalling her high school years.