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

Made in Asheville, North Carolina, French Broad Chocolate's Whiskey Barrel bar uses local Two Trees Distilling oak barrels during the chocolate ageing process. —Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Familiar dishes with small boosts tend to shine the most — creamy pastas, roasted proteins, cozy vegetarian mains, chocolate-forward desserts. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2026

Recreate it by draping Everlane’s oversized crewneck over Arma’s suede trench coat and Gap’s chocolate-brown trousers, then finish with heeled boots and a robin’s egg blue bag for a fresh pop of color. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026

Espresso becomes a lightning rod that awakens chocolate. —Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026

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