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

/ -ˌmɛl; ˈkærəməl /

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

There I try several vintages of the amber-gold wine that tastes of honey, spices, and burned caramel.

From The Daily Beast

These bad boys add in a dangerously decadent layer of caramel to create the so-called “Even Sluttier Slutty Brownies.”

From The Daily Beast

Beyond the river, caramel plains rolled away to the distant horizon, spotted with acacia trees and slow-moving giraffe.

From The Daily Beast

My three younger siblings have skin tones that range from caramel to a golden bronze.

From The Daily Beast

It was this giant round patty of chocolate, nuts, and caramel.

From The Daily Beast

You can vary them by putting in jam or by making the sugar into caramel, or adding a little bit of rice.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, while I am making the caramel, I will describe to you the clarifying of the soup.

From Project Gutenberg

If the curd is a dull brown color caramel was probably used to color the milk.

From Project Gutenberg

If the acid solution turns blue while the curd does not change its color, caramel was used to color the milk.

From Project Gutenberg

A very small amount of caramel will require several hours to precipitate.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• carbohydrate