molasses

[ muh-las-iz ]

noun

1. a thick syrup produced during the refining of sugar or from sorghum, varying from light to dark brown in color.

molasses

/ məˈlæsɪz /

noun

1. the thick brown uncrystallized bitter syrup obtained from sugar during refining
2. a dark viscous syrup obtained during the refining of sugar Also called (in Britain and certain other countries)treacle

Word History and Origins

Origin of molasses¹

1575–85; earlier molassos, molasso ( e ) s < Portuguese melaços, plural of melaço (< Late Latin mellācium half-boiled new wine, for *mellāceum, neuter of *mellāceus honeylike, equivalent to mell-, stem of mel honey + -āceus -aceous )

Word History and Origins

Origin of molasses¹

C16: from Portuguese melaço, from Late Latin mellāceum must, from Latin mel honey

Example Sentences

These dishes capture my love for flavors like saffron, pomegranate molasses, turmeric, Omani lemons and fresh herbs.

From Salon

When classical music meets pop, it often feels like the songs are drowning in molasses.

From BBC

Or they may appear as other food ingredients, such as molasses, honey, jam, concentrated juice or syrup.

From Salon

A low-viscosity fluid flows fast like water, while a viscous fluid acts more like molasses.

From Science Daily

For seven years, political infighting, industrial rivalry and neglect had pooled like molasses around the project to build a next-generation tank, known as the Main Combat Ground System.

From New York Times

Related Words

• maple syrup