caramel

[ kar-uh-muh l, -mel, kahr-muh l ]
/ ˈkær ə məl, -ˌmɛl, ˈkɑr məl /

noun

a liquid made by cooking sugar until it changes color, used for coloring and flavoring food.
a kind of chewy candy, commonly in small blocks, made from sugar, butter, milk, etc.
a yellowish brown or tan color.

Origin of caramel

1715–25; < French < Spanish or Portuguese caramelo < Late Latin calamellus little reed (by dissimilation), equivalent to calam(us) reed (see calamus) + -ellus diminutive suffix; meaning changed by association with Medieval Latin cannamella, canna mellis, etc., sugar cane, equivalent to Latin canna cane + mel honey (genitive mellis)

Example sentences from the Web for caramel

British Dictionary definitions for caramel

caramel
/ (ˈkærəməl, -ˌmɛl) /

noun

burnt sugar, used for colouring and flavouring food
a chewy sweet made from sugar, butter, milk, etc
See also crème caramel

Word Origin for caramel

C18: from French, from Spanish caramelo, of uncertain origin