caramel

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a brown substance made by heating sugar, used to flavor or color food and drinks

   The chef poured warm caramel over the baked apples.

2. 2
   noun

   a soft or chewy sweet made from heated sugar with butter, milk, or cream

   He offered each guest a salted caramel after dinner.

3. 3
   noun

   a warm light-to-medium brown color

   The leather had aged to a rich caramel.

4. 4
   adj

   having the color or flavor of caramel

   She chose a caramel coat and ordered a caramel latte.

Borrowed from French caramel, from Spanish caramelo and Portuguese caramelo. Its deeper origin is disputed. The word first named browned sugar and later extended to sweets made with it, its flavor, and the characteristic golden-brown color.

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