candy

¹

[kan-dee]

noun

plural

candies 

1. any of a variety of confections made with sugar, syrup, etc., often combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, etc.

2. a single piece of such a confection.

3. Slang.,  cocaine.

4. 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)

candied, candying 

1. to cook in sugar or syrup, as sweet potatoes or carrots.

2. to cook in heavy syrup until transparent, as fruit, fruit peel, or ginger.

3. to reduce (sugar, syrup, etc.) to a crystalline form, usually by boiling down.

4. to coat with sugar.

   to candy dates.

5. to make sweet, palatable, or agreeable.

verb (used without object)

candied, candying 

1. to become covered with sugar.

2. to crystallize into sugar.

Candy

²

[kan-dee]

noun

1. a female given name.

candy

/ ˈkændɪ /

noun

1. confectionery in general; sweets, chocolate, etc

2. a person or thing that is regarded as being attractive but superficial

   arm candy

3. informal,  very easy to accomplish

verb

1. to cause (sugar, etc) to become crystalline, esp by boiling or (of sugar) to become crystalline through boiling

2. to preserve (fruit peel, ginger, etc) by boiling in sugar

3. to cover with any crystalline substance, such as ice or sugar

Other Word Forms

• candylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of candy¹

1225–75; Middle English candi, sugre candi candied sugar < Middle French sucre candi; candi ≪ Arabic qandī < Persian qandi sugar < Sanskrit khaṇḍakaḥ sugar candy

Word History and Origins

Origin of candy¹

C18: from Old French sucre candi candied sugar, from Arabic qandi candied, from qand cane sugar, of Dravidian origin

Example Sentences

But naturally, the only place to really hear it is under a cotton candy sky in Elysian Park.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Adjoining stores sold cast iron skillets, toys and old-fashioned candies, with rocking chairs out front for waiting customers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Higher cocoa prices are contributing to increased candy costs, with chocolate prices up 8.1% in August compared to the previous year.

Read more on Barron's

Save room for the inventive desserts like the banana split topped with cotton candy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Deadbeat” works well as a studio demonstration and space-filling ear candy, but there isn’t nearly enough happening otherwise to sustain Tame Impala fans for another few years.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• sweet