candy

¹

[kan-dee]

noun

plural

candies 

1. any of a variety of confections made with sugar, syrup, etc., often combined with chocolate, fruit, nuts, etc.

2. a single piece of such a confection.

3. Slang.,  cocaine.

4. 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)

candied, candying 

1. to cook in sugar or syrup, as sweet potatoes or carrots.

2. to cook in heavy syrup until transparent, as fruit, fruit peel, or ginger.

3. to reduce (sugar, syrup, etc.) to a crystalline form, usually by boiling down.

4. to coat with sugar.

   to candy dates.

5. to make sweet, palatable, or agreeable.

verb (used without object)

candied, candying 

1. to become covered with sugar.

2. to crystallize into sugar.

Candy

²

[kan-dee]

noun

1. a female given name.

candy

/ ˈkændɪ /

noun

1. confectionery in general; sweets, chocolate, etc

2. a person or thing that is regarded as being attractive but superficial

   arm candy

3. informal,  very easy to accomplish

verb

1. to cause (sugar, etc) to become crystalline, esp by boiling or (of sugar) to become crystalline through boiling

2. to preserve (fruit peel, ginger, etc) by boiling in sugar

3. to cover with any crystalline substance, such as ice or sugar

Other Word Forms

• candylike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of candy¹

1225–75; Middle English candi, sugre candi candied sugar < Middle French sucre candi; candi ≪ Arabic qandī < Persian qandi sugar < Sanskrit khaṇḍakaḥ sugar candy

Word History and Origins

Origin of candy¹

C18: from Old French sucre candi candied sugar, from Arabic qandi candied, from qand cane sugar, of Dravidian origin

Example Sentences

Over the Halloween season, customers spent on candy and costumes, but cut back on more-discretionary categories like seasonal decor, said Target’s Chief Commercial Officer Rick Gomez.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

None of this prevents “Champagne Problems” from being as sticky as a half-finished candy cane.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The non-fisherwoman is also brandishing a crooked staff, curved at the top like a wooden candy cane.

Read more on Literature

“There is a rule about candy, and the rule is this: There is no candy allowed in school! None! If anyone dares to object, they ought to come see me right now!”

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For here was Simon Harley-Dickinson gently helping her to her feet, and the Incorrigibles, their faces grubby and hands sticky from candy, clambering out of the town coach and crowding anxiously around her.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• sweet