caramel

[kar-uh-muhl, -mel, kahr-muhl]

noun

1. a liquid made by cooking sugar until it changes color, used for coloring and flavoring food.

2. a kind of chewy candy, commonly in small blocks, made from sugar, butter, milk, etc.

3. a yellowish brown or tan color.

caramel

/ ˈkærəməl, -ˌmɛl /

noun

1. burnt sugar, used for colouring and flavouring food

2. a chewy sweet made from sugar, butter, milk, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of caramel¹

First recorded in 1715–25; from French, from Spanish or Portuguese caramelo, from Late Latin calamellus “little reed” (by dissimilation), equivalent to calam(us) reed ( calamus ) + -ellus diminutive suffix; meaning changed by association with Medieval Latin cannamella, canna mellis, etc., “sugarcane,” equivalent to Latin canna cane + mel “honey” (genitive mellis )

Word History and Origins

Origin of caramel¹

C18: from French, from Spanish caramelo, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

He describes its palette as chocolate: white to dark, streaked with caramel.

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The 21-piece hemisphere collection makes a delightful and delicious gift, featuring flavors such as saffron, Persian rose, yuzu and burnt caramel.

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“Now, young sir,” she said with difficulty, for it turned out to be a gooey one, with a sticky caramel center.

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“That is a remarkable flavor. It is not quite chocolate, not quite vanilla, not quite caramel, but somehow the best of all three mixed together, and with a hint of butterscotch, too.”

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A colorful photo showed a caramel apple martini.

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Related Words

• carbohydrate 

When To Use

What is caramel?

Caramel is a liquid made by heating sugar until it changes to a brownish color. Caramel is used for coloring or flavoring food.Caramel is often used as a flavoring or sauce for a variety of foods, especially desserts, such as caramel ice cream and caramel-coated popcorn.The word caramel can also refer to a chewy candy made from the heated sugar, milk, butter, and other ingredients. It’s often shaped into cubes and is sometimes covered in chocolate, which you might find in a box of Valentine’s Day chocolates.Finally, caramel can refer to a tan or yellowish-brown color that resembles the color of the sugary liquid, as in The cat had a caramel-colored tail.Example: My favorite candy is a chocolate bar filled with caramel.