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

Judging Panel described this Finnish, Sherry matured single malt whiskey as expressing: A luscious bouquet of rich caramel, butterscotch, cocoa, and pears. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 24 Dec. 2024

There were heaping bowls of something called Krazy Krunch (think nutty caramel corn, with a hefty glug of corn syrup) and homemade hard candies, spread out like a feast in front of a Christmas tree so intricately decorated it was left up year round. —Megan Thielking, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2024

Cane syrup adds deep notes of caramel and butterscotch to this cake, which complement the warm spices in the batter. —Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 22 Dec. 2024

The final course is a petit four like a butter caramel made from the scraps of the butter leftover from making other pastries. —Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 19 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