Sugar

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈʃʊɡə(ɹ)/
• US enPR: sho͝ogʹər, IPA: /ˈʃʊɡɚ/
• Rhymes: -ÊŠÉ¡É™(r)

Alternative forms

• shugar obsolete

Origin

From later Old French çucre (circa 13th cent), from Medieval Latin zuccarum, from Old Italian zucchero, from Arabic سُكّر, from Persian شکر, from Sanskrit शर्करा (śárkarā, "ground or candied sugar", originally "grit, gravel"), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱorkeh- ("gravel, boulder"), akin to Ancient Greek κρόκη (krókē, "pebble").

Full definition of sugar

Noun

1. (uncountable) Sucrose in the form of small crystals, obtained from sugar cane or sugar beet and used to sweeten food and drink.
2. (countable) When used to sweeten a drink, an amount of this substance approximately equal to five grams or one teaspoon.He usually has his coffee white with one sugar.
3. (countable, chemistry) Any of various small carbohydrates that are used by organisms to store energy.
4. (countable) A generic term for sucrose, glucose, fructose, etc.
5. (countable) A term of endearment.I'll be with you in a moment, sugar.
6. (countable, slang) A kiss.
7. (chiefly southern US, slang, uncountable) Effeminacy in a male, often implying homosexuality.I think John has a little bit of sugar in him.
8. (uncountable, informal) Diabetes.
9. (by extension) Anything resembling sugar in taste or appearance.Sugar of lead (lead acetate) is a poisonous white crystalline substance with a sweet taste.
10. Compliment or flattery used to disguise or render acceptable something obnoxious; honeyed or soothing words.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To add sugar to; to sweeten with sugar.John heavily sugars his coffee.
2. (transitive) To make (something unpleasant) seem less so.She has a gift for sugaring what would otherwise be harsh words.
3. (US, regional) In making maple sugar, to complete the process of boiling down the syrup till it is thick enough to crystallize; to approach or reach the state of granulation; with the preposition off.

Synonyms

• (add sugar to) sweeten
• (make less unpleasant) sweeten, sugar-coat

Derived terms

Interjection

1. (informal, euphemistic) Used in place of shit!Oh, sugar!

Anagrams

• Argus
• gaurs