candy

¹can·dy

noun \ˈkan-dē\

plural candies

Definition of CANDY

1

: crystallized sugar formed by boiling down sugar syrup

2

a : a confection made with sugar and often flavoring and filling

b : a piece of such confection

3

: something that is pleasant or appealing in a light or frivolous way <visual candy>

— candy adjective

Examples of CANDY

1. The cough syrup tastes like candy.

Origin of CANDY

Middle English sugre candy, part translation of Middle French sucre candi, from Old French sucre sugar + Arabic qandī candied, from qand crystallized sugar

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with CANDY

bandy, brandy, dandy, handy, Handy, Kandy, pandy, randy, sandhi, sandy, Sandy, shandy

²candy

verb

can·diedcan·dy·ing

Definition of CANDY

transitive verb

1

: to encrust in or coat with sugar; specifically : to cook (as fruit or fruit peel) in a heavy syrup until glazed

2

: to make attractive : sweeten

3

: to crystallize into sugar

intransitive verb

: to become coated or encrusted with sugar crystals : become crystallized into sugar

Examples of CANDY

1. <the publisher hopes the flashy cover will candy up the novel for impulse buyers>

First Known Use of CANDY

1533

Related to CANDY

Synonyms

sweeten, dress up, enhance

Related Words

ameliorate, enrich, improve, meliorate; embellish, soup up, trick; cosmeticize, doll up, spruce

candy

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Sweet sugar- or chocolate-based confection. The Egyptians made candy from honey (combined with figs, dates, nuts, and spices), sugar being unknown. With the spread of sugarcane cultivation in the 15th century, the industry began to grow. In the late 18th century the first candy-manufacturing machinery was produced. The main ingredients are cane and beet sugars combined with other carbohydrate foods such as corn syrup, cornstarch, honey, molasses, and maple sugar. To the sweet base are added chocolate, fruits, nuts, peanuts, eggs, milk, flavours, and colours. Common varieties include hard candies (crystallized sugar), caramels and toffees, nougats, jellies, fondants, marshmallows, marzipans, truffles, cotton candies, licorices, and chewing gums.