The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Compote \Com"pote\ (k[o^]m"p[=o]t), n. [F. See Compost.]
   1. A preparation of fruit in sirup in such a manner as to
      preserve its form, either whole, halved, or quartered; as,
      a compote of pears. --Littr['e].
      [1913 Webster]

   2. a bowl-shaped dish having a stem, and a base smaller than
      the bowl, used to serve compotes or other items, such as
      candies, nuts, or fruit; a compote dish. Compotes may be
      made of different materials, such as glass, porcelain, or
      silver.

   Syn: compote dish, compotier.
        [PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

compote
    n 1: dessert of stewed or baked fruit [syn: compote, fruit
         compote]