chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchä-k(ə-)lət  ˈchȯ- 

1

: a beverage made by mixing chocolate with water or milk

The boy stirred the chocolate before drinking it.

2

: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans

The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate.

3

: a small candy with a center (such as a fondant) and a chocolate coating

gave her a box of chocolates

4

: a brownish gray

The bird's plumage was a shade of chocolate.

chocolate adjective

Examples of chocolate in a Sentence

The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate.

She gave me a box of chocolates for my birthday.

Recent Examples on the Web

The shakes came in a variety of flavors, including chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 27 Feb. 2025

Veterinarian website Bondi Vet says foods that dogs cannot eat include chocolate, which can be fatal even in small quantities; alliums, including onion, garlic and chives; grapes, raisins and sultanas; avocado; macadamia nuts; citrus; caffeine; alcohol; nutmeg; and raw dough. —Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025

Mexican-style chocolate, which has an intense flavor and a slightly grainy texture, is traditional, but any good-quality dark chocolate will work. —Ricardo Hernández Arellano, Saveur, 26 Feb. 2025

Its latest flavor chocolate could exceed $200,000 in first-year retail sales, according to industry sources. —Emily Burns, WWD, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl chocolātl, probably an alteration of eastern Nahuatl dialect chikolātl, from chikolli hook (probably used to refer to the beater used to mix chocolate with water) + ātl water, liquid

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chocolate

• baker's chocolate
• baking chocolate
• chocolate-box
• chocolate chip cookie
• dark chocolate
• hot chocolate
• milk chocolate
• plain chocolate
• sweet chocolate
• white chocolate

Kids Definition

chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchäk-(ə-)lət  ˈchȯk- 

1

: a beverage of chocolate in water or milk

2

: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans

3

: a candy made of or coated with chocolate

4

: a brownish gray

chocolate adjective