caramel

noun

car·​a·​mel ˈkär-məl  ˈker-ə-məl 

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

Chattanooga’s unique bourbon profile is due to the inclusion of caramel malted and honey malted barley and the extended, low-temperature seven-day fermentation. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Get The Recipe 18 of 25 Apple Butter Pound Cake This tender cake has a ribbon of homemade apple butter running through it for a sweet surprise, plus a rich caramel glaze. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2024

The macaron cookie flavors are pumpkin spice, chai, maple cider, caramel apple, and cinnamon roll. —Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

Like the vanilla girl summer, caramel girl fall, and the cinnamon girl aesthetic that came before it, slow girl autumn offers distinct characteristics that define the style. —Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Nov. 2024

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

Phrases Containing caramel

• crème caramel

Kids Definition

caramel

noun

car·​a·​mel ˈkär-məl  ˈkar-ə-məl 

-ˌmel

1

: burnt sugar used for coloring and flavoring

2

: a firm chewy candy

Medical Definition

caramel

noun

car·​a·​mel ˈkar-ə-məl  -ˌmel; ˈkär-məl 

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