chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchä-k(ə-)lət  ˈchȯ- 

1

: a beverage made by mixing chocolate with water or milk

The boy stirred the chocolate before drinking it.

2

: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans

The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate.

3

: a small candy with a center (such as a fondant) and a chocolate coating

gave her a box of chocolates

4

: a brownish gray

The bird's plumage was a shade of chocolate.

chocolate adjective

Examples of chocolate in a Sentence

The cake recipe calls for four squares of chocolate.

She gave me a box of chocolates for my birthday.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rattigan is also paying more for almonds, hazelnuts, and chocolate-making equipment from Italy, which has also been hit with tariffs. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025

The menu includes an Acapulco-style seafood cocktail, handmade guacamole, jalapeno, jicama and carrot slaw, beef and chicken fajitas, refried black beans and ice cream sundaes with Mexican chocolate sauce. —Stacey Zable, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025

Sales of non-chocolate candy have been growing much faster than those of chocolate in recent years. —Alina Selyukh, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025

Keep it simple or dress it up with a hit of spice or citrus (think cinnamon, chili powder, or orange peel), a sprinkle of chocolate chips, or a swipe of frosting. —Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Nahuatl chocolātl, probably an alteration of eastern Nahuatl dialect chikolātl, from chikolli hook (probably used to refer to the beater used to mix chocolate with water) + ātl water, liquid

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing chocolate

• baker's chocolate
• baking chocolate
• chocolate-box
• chocolate chip cookie
• dark chocolate
• hot chocolate
• milk chocolate
• plain chocolate
• sweet chocolate
• white chocolate

Kids Definition

chocolate

noun

choc·​o·​late ˈchäk-(ə-)lət  ˈchȯk- 

1

: a beverage of chocolate in water or milk

2

: a food prepared from ground roasted cacao beans

3

: a candy made of or coated with chocolate

4

: a brownish gray

chocolate adjective