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

The miso caramel added a nice salty-sweet finish to a creative dish. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024

And the most special of this particular special, IMHO, is the fried garlic and fish sauce caramel version, a sticky, savory, funky *ss take on what is undeniably one of beer’s best pairing pals. —Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Dec. 2024

Its flavors are at once juicy and extravagant, with a nutty caramel finish. —Patrick Comiskey, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024

Approachable, sweet, and fruity to start the nose, this 12 year whisky begins with the aroma of light caramel with hints of blueberry and blackberry jam right behind. —David Thomas Tao, Forbes, 22 Dec. 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