sweet

¹sweet

adjective \ˈswēt\

Definition of SWEET

1

a (1) : pleasing to the taste (2) : being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is typically induced by disaccharides and is mediated especially by receptors in taste buds at the front of the tongue — compare bitter, salt, sour

b (1) of a beverage : containing a sweetening ingredient : not dry (2) of wine : retaining a portion of natural sugar

2

a : pleasing to the mind or feelings : agreeable, gratifying —often used as a generalized term of approval <how sweet it is>

b : marked by gentle good humor or kindliness <a sweet disposition>

c : fragrant <a sweet aroma>

d (1) : delicately pleasing to the ear or eye <a sweet melody> (2) : played in a straightforward melodic style <sweet jazz>

e : saccharine, cloying

f : very good or appealing <a sweet job offer> <a sweet sports car>

3

: much loved : dear

4

a : not sour, rancid, decaying, or stale : wholesome <sweet milk>

b : not salt or salted : fresh <sweet water> <sweet butter>

c : free from excessive acidity —used especially of soil

d : free from noxious gases and odors

e : free from excess of acid, sulfur, or corrosive salts <sweet crude oil>

5

: skillful, proficient <a sweet golf swing>

6

—used as an intensive <take your own sweet time>

— sweet·ly adverb

— sweet·ness noun

— sweet on

: having a crush on

Examples of SWEET

1. She likes her coffee sweet.
2. That candy is too sweet.
3. He's a really sweet guy.
4. She has a sweet smile.
5. It was sweet of her to take care of them.

Origin of SWEET

Middle English swete, from Old English swēte; akin to Old High German suozi sweet, Latin suadēre to urge, suavis sweet, Greek hēdys

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SWEET

Synonyms

beloved, cherished, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, loved, pet, precious, special, darling, white-headed

Antonyms

unbeloved

Related Words

admired, adored, appreciated, esteemed, relished, revered; prized, treasured; preferred

Near Antonyms

abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, disdained, disfavored, disliked, execrated, hated, loathed, unfavorite; abandoned, forgotten, ignored; alienated, estranged

Rhymes with SWEET

beat, beet, bleat, cheat, cleat, Crete, deet, eat, feat, fleet, Geat, gleet, greet, heat, lied, meat, meet, mete, neat, peat, pleat, seat, sheet, skeet, sleet, street, suite, teat, treat, tweet, weet, wheat

²sweet

adverb

Definition of SWEET

: in a sweet manner

First Known Use of SWEET

13th century

³sweet

noun

Definition of SWEET

1

: something that is sweet to the taste: as

a : a food (as a candy or preserve) having a high sugar content <fill up on sweets>

b British : dessert

c British : hard candy

2

: a sweet taste sensation

3

: a pleasant or gratifying experience, possession, or state

4

: darling, sweetheart

5

a archaic : fragrance

b plural archaic : things having a sweet smell

Examples of SWEET

1. I'm trying to cut down on sweets.
2. <remember to brush your teeth after eating sweets>

First Known Use of SWEET

14th century

Related to SWEET

Synonyms

confection, sweetmeat

Related Words

confectionary, confectionery, sweeties [British]; afters [British], candy, dessert, entremets, pastry

Other Food Terms

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

Sweet

biographical name \ˈswēt\

Definition of SWEET

Henry 1845–1912 Eng. phonetician