Word Study
caramel
CIDE DICTIONARY
caramel, n. [F. caramel (cf. Sp. caramelo), LL. canna mellis, cannamella, canamella, calamellus mellitus, sugar cane, from or confused with L. canna reed + mel, mellis, honey. See Cane.].
- Burnt sugar; a brown or black porous substance obtained by heating sugar. It is soluble in water, and is used for coloring spirits, gravies, etc. [1913 Webster]
- A kind of confectionery, usually a small cube or square of tenacious paste, or candy, of varying composition and flavor. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
caramel, n.
1 a sugar or syrup heated until it turns brown, then used as a flavouring or to colour spirits etc. b a kind of soft toffee made with sugar, butter, etc., melted and further heated.
2 the light-brown colour of caramel.
1 a sugar or syrup heated until it turns brown, then used as a flavouring or to colour spirits etc. b a kind of soft toffee made with sugar, butter, etc., melted and further heated.
2 the light-brown colour of caramel.
Etymology
F f. Sp. caramelo
ROGET THESAURUS
caramel
Sweetness
N sweetness, dulcitude, sugar, syrup, treacle, molasses, honey, manna, confection, confectionary, sweets, grocery, conserve, preserve, confiture, jam, julep, sugar-candy, sugar-plum, licorice, marmalade, plum, lollipop, bonbon, jujube, comfit, sweetmeat, apple butter, caramel, damson, glucose, maple sirup, maple syrup, maple sugar, mithai, sorghum, taffy, nectar, hydromel, mead, meade, metheglin, honeysuckle, liqueur, sweet wine, aperitif, sugar cane, sugar beets, desert, pastry, pie, cake, candy, ice cream, tart, puff, pudding (food), dulcification, dulcoration, sweetener, corn syrup, cane sugar, refined sugar, beet sugar, dextrose, artificial sweetener, saccharin, cyclamate, aspartame, Sweet'N Low, sweet, saccharine, sacchariferous, dulcet, candied, honied, luscious, lush, nectarious, melliferous, sweetened, sweet as a nut, sweet as sugar, sweet as honey, sickly sweet, eau sucr_ee, sweets to the sweet.For further exploring for "caramel" in Webster Dictionary Online
