a sweet, crystalline substance, C 1 2 H 2 2 O 1 1 , obtained chiefly from the juice of the sugarcane and the sugar beet, and present in sorghum, maple sap, etc.: used extensively as an ingredient and flavoring of certain foods and as a fermenting agent in the manufacture of certain alcoholic beverages; sucrose.
Chemistry. a member of the same class of carbohydrates, as lactose, glucose, or fructose.
(sometimes initial capital letter) an affectionate or familiar term of address, as to a child or a romantic partner (sometimes offensive when used to strangers, casual acquaintances, subordinates, etc., especially by a male to a female).
a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter S.
Slang. money.
Slang. LSD
to cover, sprinkle, mix, or sweeten with sugar.
to make agreeable.
to form sugar or sugar crystals.
to make maple sugar.
Also called: sucrose, saccharose. a white crystalline sweet carbohydrate, a disaccharide, found in many plants and extracted from sugar cane and sugar beet: it is used esp as a sweetening agent in food and drinks. Formula: C 12 H 22 O 11
any of a class of simple water-soluble carbohydrates, such as sucrose, lactose, and fructose
informal a term of affection, esp for one's sweetheart
rare a slang word for money
a slang name for LSD
(tr) to add sugar to; make sweet
(tr) to cover or sprinkle with sugar
(intr) to produce sugar
to make something unpleasant more agreeable by adding something pleasant
the government stopped wage increases but sugared the pill by reducing taxes
1250–1300; Middle English sugre, sucre (noun) < Middle French sucre < Medieval Latin succārum < Italian zucchero < Arabic sukkar; obscurely akin to Persian shakar, Greek sákcharon ( see sacchar-)
Sugar is the sweet stuff that makes candy and other treats extra delicious, but eating too much of it is bad for you. Sugar isn’t only a food, it’s also an essential part of living cells and a source of energy for all animals. There are two main senses of sugar. First is refined sugar — the crystals that sweeten and preserve many foods. This yummy stuff comes from the sugarcane and sugar beet plants, and really hit the scene in the 18th and 19th centuries when sugar plantations spread and more people could get sugar. The other kind of sugar refers to biochemistry, and these sugars are an important part of the cells of all living things.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He demanded that Lobo surrender his properties and run a sugar plant owned by the state.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
This hormone helps regulate blood sugar and signals that influence hunger and feelings of fullness.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
The company also said that Rice Krispies and Coco Pops will continue to meet UK food standards on levels of fat, salt and sugar in food.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026
Its foods business—encompassing ingredients, sugar, agriculture and grocery—has traditionally been less favored by investors than the retail business.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
The middle can was filled with very cold milk, sugar, vanilla, and blueberries.
From "Scream for Ice Cream: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #2" by Carolyn Keene
"I can walk up the Sugar Loaf Mountain in an hour and 20 minutes or I could be getting measured for a new suit or buying a coffee in 20 minutes."
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
Sugar substitutes are often promoted as a healthier way to enjoy sweet foods and drinks without consuming as much sugar.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
Sugar and cocoa production could also take a hit.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026
Sugar prices climbed 6.1% in September, marking their third consecutive monthly increase on expectations of tighter global supplies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Later, in 1764, as tensions between Great Britain and the American colonists increased to an even greater degree, the English parliament passed the Sugar Act.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
Behind the bar, yeast busily converted sugars into alcohol inside giant stainless steel fermentation tanks.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
Means demanded stricter limits on added sugars, protein in breakfasts and 100% whole grain products, changes that roughly quadrupled the cost.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Ethel had been found in a coma at 05:00 and her first injection of glucose to increase her blood sugars was given at 06:15.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
They are typically made with refined fats, oils, sugars, starches, salts, and other additives designed to improve flavor, texture, and shelf life, often while lowering nutritional quality.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
A single strand of DNA consists of a backbone of sugars and phosphates, and four bases—A, T, G, and C—attached to the backbone, like teeth jutting out from a zipper strand.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
"Nah, nah, nah. I used to use sugared hot water, before the days of hair lacquer. And I couldn't afford hair lacquer, anyway."
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2025
The sugared cranberries on top, of course, stole the show.
From Salon ● Dec. 19, 2024
Dip each in the turbinado sugar to coat one side; set sugared side up on the prepared baking sheet, nine per sheet.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 15, 2023
“While he can wag a finger as vigorously as the rest of his Boomer cohort, gentleness and twinkle have always sugared the Croz pill,” Eccleston wrote.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2023
Having seen the smoke and tasted the sugared air on his tongue, he delayed his journey to Palestine to detour back toward Vienna.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
"The sugaring season has come early this year and is still underway," he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2024
But she soon found that before she could provide services for clients, and earn more, she was required to attend trainings on such things as sugaring to remove unwanted hair and lash and brow maintenance.
From Reuters ● Oct. 17, 2022
Van den Berg remains optimistic that technological advances the modern sugaring operation affords can provide a buffer.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2022
Mr. Gregg’s own sugaring exploits started that way in 1997, and he now has over 1,000 taps.
From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2021
Mama was putting together a stew and Deydey was off somewhere with Fishtail, planning ceremonies that would be held during the sugaring, not far from their camp.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
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