candy
1 Americannoun
plural
candies-
any of a variety of confections made with sugar, syrup, etc., often combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, etc.
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a single piece of such a confection.
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Slang. cocaine.
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someone or something that is pleasing or pleasurable, usually in a superficial way (often used in combination).
The show is candy, but enjoy it for what it is.
verb (used with object)
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to cook in sugar or syrup, as sweet potatoes or carrots.
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to cook in heavy syrup until transparent, as fruit, fruit peel, or ginger.
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to reduce (sugar, syrup, etc.) to a crystalline form, usually by boiling down.
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to coat with sugar.
to candy dates.
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to make sweet, palatable, or agreeable.
verb (used without object)
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to become covered with sugar.
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to crystallize into sugar.
noun
noun
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confectionery in general; sweets, chocolate, etc
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a person or thing that is regarded as being attractive but superficial
arm candy
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informal very easy to accomplish
verb
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to cause (sugar, etc) to become crystalline, esp by boiling or (of sugar) to become crystalline through boiling
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to preserve (fruit peel, ginger, etc) by boiling in sugar
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to cover with any crystalline substance, such as ice or sugar
Other Word Forms
- candylike adjective
Etymology
Origin of candy
1225–75; Middle English candi, sugre candi candied sugar < Middle French sucre candi; candi ≪ Arabic qandī < Persian qandi sugar < Sanskrit khaṇḍakaḥ sugar candy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They got a little candy star and a dollop of filling, plump and honest like their German ancestor.
From Salon
At least Dad liked to go to the candy store as much as Bat did.
From Literature
When the ceremonies were over, Sadako led the others straight to the old lady who sold cotton candy.
From Literature
They had eaten funnel cakes and candy apples and jawbreakers but had not yet sampled the ice cream.
From Literature
The outside of the candy bar melts against the warmth of my fingers.
From Literature
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
