molasses

[ muh-las-iz ]

/ məˈlæs ɪz /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR molasses ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a thick syrup produced during the refining of sugar or from sorghum, varying from light to dark brown in color.

Nearby words

molar heat capacity, molar volume, molarity, molars, molasse, molasses, mold, mold loft, mold wash, moldable, moldau

Origin of molasses

1575–85; earlier molassos, molasso(e)s < Portuguese melaços, plural of melaço (< Late Latin mellācium half-boiled new wine, for *mellāceum, neuter of *mellāceus honeylike, equivalent to mell-, stem of mel honey + -āceus -aceous)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for molasses

Molasses in the gears of a Democratic EPA could be a worthy goal for many Republicans these days.
GOP Boycott of EPA Nominee Gina McCarthy Sparks War With Democrats|Patricia Murphy|May 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mix soy sauce, molasses, broth, salt, and sesame oil together, along with 1-2 tablespoons of the cooking liquid.
Gadget Chef: Pressure Cooker Kung Pao|Megan McArdle|January 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
This is the kind of thing that makes for backyard fence chit chat, and it can stick like molasses.
Michael Tomasky on How Obama Can Seal the Deal in the Final Days|Michael Tomasky|November 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
With the count proceeding at a molasses rate, none of the networks were able to make projections in the tight three-way contests.
Mitt Romney Stays in the Hunt in the Dixie Primaries of Alabama and Mississippi|Howard Kurtz|March 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST

They work in a vast rural factory that resembles an old steel mill and smells like molasses.
Pakistan Asks: Why Do You Hate Us?|Steve Inskeep|May 25, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Whenever the duty on sugar was increased, that on molasses should also be increased.
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. II (of 16)|Thomas Hart Benton
Molasses from cane or sorghum is added to the fat, making what is known as 'sap,' which is eaten with the corn bread.
The Negro Farmer|Carl Kelsey
Twas all-important that the folk should be fedjust fed with bread and molasses and tea: nothing more than that.
Every Man for Himself|Norman Duncan
The molasses and skimmings were sent for, sale to Batavia, where one distillery might buy the produce of a hundred estates.
Thoughts On The Necessity Of Improving The Condition Of The Slaves|Thomas Clarkson
Put the cork back in the molasses jug before it spills into the Indian meal.
Roy Blakeley in the Haunted Camp|Percy Keese Fitzhugh

British Dictionary definitions for molasses

molasses

/ (məˈlæsɪz) /

noun (functioning as singular)

the thick brown uncrystallized bitter syrup obtained from sugar during refining

US and Canadian a dark viscous syrup obtained during the refining of sugarAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): treacle

Word Origin for molasses

C16: from Portuguese melaço, from Late Latin mellāceum must, from Latin mel honey

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for molasses

molasses

1580s, from Portuguese melaço, from Late Latin mellaceum "new wine," properly neuter of mellaceus "resembling honey," from Latin mel (genitive mellis) "honey" (see Melissa). Adopted in English in plural form, but regarded as a singular noun.