marmalade

noun

mar·​ma·​lade ˈmär-mə-ˌlād 

: a clear sweetened jelly in which pieces of fruit and fruit rind are suspended

Examples of marmalade in a Sentence

a jar of orange marmalade

Recent Examples on the Web

On the palate, a harmonious blend of rich baking spices and luscious red fruits unfolds, while a subtly dry finish reveals hints of buttery marmalade on toast. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024

The jar of marmalade falls off the bench and rolls along the floor. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024

There’s a Bud Frog jug and a Mr. Peanut, and one jug made in 1980 by a British marmalade company that’s just shy of a racist caricature. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 27 Sep. 2024

To a crowd of dozens on Thursday afternoon, Greenspan prepared the burger topped with cheese, a cheese spread, and a marmalade with splash of bourbon from Starlight Distillery. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 19 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English marmelat quince conserve, Portuguese marmelada, from marmelo quince, from Latin melimelum, a sweet apple, from Greek melimēlon, from meli honey + mēlon apple — more at mellifluous

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

marmalade

noun

mar·​ma·​lade ˈmär-mə-ˌlād 

: a clear jelly containing pieces of fruit and fruit rind

orange marmalade

Etymology

from Portuguese marmelada "jelly made from quince," from marmelo "quince," from Latin melimelum "sweet apple," from Greek melimēlon (same meaning), from meli "honey" and mēlon "apple"

Word Origin

Many of us have eaten orange marmalade, but marmalade can be made from any of several fruits. The Portuguese made such a jelly from the quince, a fruit that looks a bit like a yellow apple. The Portuguese word for the quince is marmelo, which is based on the Latin word melimelum, meaning "a sweet apple." The Portuguese called the jelly they made from the quince marmelada. English borrowed this word as marmalade.