caramel

noun

car·​a·​mel ˈkär-məl How to pronounce caramel (audio) ˈker-ə-məl How to pronounce caramel (audio)
ˈka-rə-,
-ˌmel
1
: a usually firm to brittle, golden-brown to dark brown substance that has a sweet, nutty, buttery, or bitter flavor, is obtained by heating sugar at high temperature, and used especially as a coloring and flavoring agent
Caramel is an ingredient in many candies.
2
: a firm, chewy, usually caramel-flavored candy made with sugar, cream, corn syrup, and butter
a bag of caramels

Examples of caramel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Commenters also gave delicious tips, like adding M&Ms or a caramel drizzle to your concoction. Blake Bakkila, Sunset Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 The snaps featured MacPherson walking in her Bianca Spender outfit and her caramel ensemble. Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 The only thing that can be added is spirit caramel because it's deemed organoleptically inert. Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Abbott’s Candies - Hagerstown Abbott's has been making caramel since before automobiles were invented. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2024 The bourbon then goes into these barrels for an additional 15 months, and according to the official tasting notes that results in flavors like caramel corn, cinnamon, chocolate ganache, and vanilla on the palate. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Mar. 2024 The basket contains two Royal Riviera pears, Moose Crunch milk chocolate popcorn and caramel popcorn, mini malt ball eggs, a milk chocolate bunny, milk chocolate malt balls, and chocolate truffles with various flavors such as raspberry, dark cherry, white coffee, and more. Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2024 Get a full morning meal to share with the Everything Encore Breakfast Sandwich, Hazelnut Heartthrob Iced Coffee (made with a blend of both hazelnut and caramel syrups), and Mixed Berry Beats Dunkin' Refresher—a strawberry dragonfruit refresher base with raspberry syrup. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024 Get The Recipe 11 of 23 Caramel Buttercream Top your caramel cake with a buttercream (steps 5-6) rather than an average frosting and everyone at the potluck will be asking for your recipe. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caramel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Spanish caramelo, from Portuguese, icicle, caramel, from Late Latin calamellus small reed — more at shawm

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of caramel was in 1702

Dictionary Entries Near caramel

Cite this Entry

“Caramel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caramel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

caramel

noun
car·​a·​mel ˈkär-məl How to pronounce caramel (audio) ˈkar-ə-məl How to pronounce caramel (audio)
-ˌmel
1
: burnt sugar used for coloring and flavoring
2
: a firm chewy candy

Medical Definition

caramel

noun
: an amorphous brittle brown and somewhat bitter substance obtained by heating sugar and used as a coloring and flavoring agent

More from Merriam-Webster on caramel

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