candy
1 Americannoun
plural
candies-
any of a variety of confections made with sugar, syrup, etc., often combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, etc.
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a single piece of such a confection.
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Slang. cocaine.
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someone or something that is pleasing or pleasurable, usually in a superficial way (often used in combination).
The show is candy, but enjoy it for what it is.
verb (used with object)
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to cook in sugar or syrup, as sweet potatoes or carrots.
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to cook in heavy syrup until transparent, as fruit, fruit peel, or ginger.
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to reduce (sugar, syrup, etc.) to a crystalline form, usually by boiling down.
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to coat with sugar.
to candy dates.
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to make sweet, palatable, or agreeable.
verb (used without object)
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to become covered with sugar.
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to crystallize into sugar.
noun
noun
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confectionery in general; sweets, chocolate, etc
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a person or thing that is regarded as being attractive but superficial
arm candy
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informal very easy to accomplish
verb
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to cause (sugar, etc) to become crystalline, esp by boiling or (of sugar) to become crystalline through boiling
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to preserve (fruit peel, ginger, etc) by boiling in sugar
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to cover with any crystalline substance, such as ice or sugar
Other Word Forms
- candylike adjective
Etymology
Origin of candy
1225–75; Middle English candi, sugre candi candied sugar < Middle French sucre candi; candi ≪ Arabic qandī < Persian qandi sugar < Sanskrit khaṇḍakaḥ sugar candy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Besides, the Neo has fun baked into its design, and candy colors may matter more than features for tweens and teens—and even some adults.
“And all you have to do is hand me this box of juice and candy bar when I refer to the older couple.”
From Los Angeles Times
“I could not understand how anyone would pass up on pillowcases full of candy for a party where she thought she might see a boy she already saw every day at school,” Avery says.
From Literature
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"I saw three moose grazing close around the cave, but it was a good place. I saw a candy wrapper and knew you had camped there."
From Literature
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But start folding in coconut shreds, caramel swirls, candy pieces, cookie dough, marshmallows?
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.