sugar
1 of 2noun
sug·ar ˈshu̇-gər 
1
a
: a sweet crystallizable material that consists wholly or essentially of sucrose, is colorless or white when pure tending to brown when less refined, is obtained commercially from sugarcane or sugar beet and less extensively from sorghum, maples, and palms, and is important as a source of dietary carbohydrate and as a sweetener and preservative of other foods
b
: any of various water-soluble compounds that vary widely in sweetness, include the monosaccharides and oligosaccharides, and typically are optically active
2
: a unit (such as a spoonful, cube, or lump) of sugar
3
: a sugar bowl
sugarless
ˈshu̇-gər-ləs
adjective sugar
2 of 2verb
sugared; sugaring ˈshu̇-g(ə-)riŋ
transitive verb
1
: to make palatable or attractive : sweeten
a story sugared with romance
2
: to sprinkle or mix with sugar
intransitive verb
1
: to form or be converted into sugar
2
: to become granular
3
: to make maple syrup or maple sugar
Example Sentences
Noun Would you pass the sugar, please? Do you take sugar in your coffee? Coffee with two sugars and milk, please. Verb The clean fruit is then dried and sugared. They've been sugaring since they were children.
Recent Examples on the Web
Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2023 In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture with the back of your spoon and set aside. —Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Feb. 2023 In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2023 Many manufacturers add preservatives, sugar, dairy products, or artificial sweeteners to their coffees – these additives can compromise both taste and health benefits. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2023 With the decline of their traditional staples, the community increasingly relied on provisions from the federal government: subsidized sugar, subsidized flour. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2023 Their bags of food are full of pasta, sugar, meat, flour, oil, and other nonperishables – a two-week supply for one person. —Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jan. 2023 Many scalp exfoliation products are physical scrubs formulated with ingredients like sea salt, sugar, or dissolving rice beads. —Sarah Madaus, SELF, 26 Jan. 2023 Sal’s modern Italianate adaptation has less sugar, more orange zest and no cinnamon. —David Tanis, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2023 Elizabeth Woolley, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2023 Green chlorophyll, which dominates during the growing season, absorbs light energy for photosynthesis, the conversion of carbon and water to sugar. —Josie Garthwaite, Discover Magazine, 27 May 2014 Will sugar or Viagra help my Christmas tree last longer? —Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2022 This protein binds to sugar molecules on the surfaces of more than 90 different bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as to the toxins released by dead bacteria. —Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2014 Peel six lemons, add peels and raspberries to sugar and muddle well to bruise the peels and smash the berries. —Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2022 Beat in the salt and confectioners sugar a little at a time, then add the maple syrup and beat until smooth and creamy. —Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022 But he may be forced to cut down his trees and switch to sugar cane or wheat if there are a few more years of bad harvests. —Vibhuti Agarwal, WSJ, 18 June 2022 The lone star tick can also cause a rare reaction, known as alpha-gal syndrome, that causes humans to become allergic to sugar molecules in certain meats, leading to people being unable to eat red meat. —al, 13 June 2022 See More
Noun
Add the tomato puree, sugar, bay leaf, pimentón, and cayenne. —Morgan Hines, USA TODAY, 5 Feb. 2023 In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture with the back of your spoon and set aside. —Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Feb. 2023 In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2023 Many manufacturers add preservatives, sugar, dairy products, or artificial sweeteners to their coffees – these additives can compromise both taste and health benefits. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Jan. 2023 With the decline of their traditional staples, the community increasingly relied on provisions from the federal government: subsidized sugar, subsidized flour. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2023 Their bags of food are full of pasta, sugar, meat, flour, oil, and other nonperishables – a two-week supply for one person. —Noah Robertson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Jan. 2023 Many scalp exfoliation products are physical scrubs formulated with ingredients like sea salt, sugar, or dissolving rice beads. —Sarah Madaus, SELF, 26 Jan. 2023 Sal’s modern Italianate adaptation has less sugar, more orange zest and no cinnamon. —David Tanis, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2023 Verb
There is some evidence that lemon juice can slow the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar, thereby preventing a spike in blood sugar. —Elizabeth Woolley, Verywell Health, 22 Jan. 2023 Green chlorophyll, which dominates during the growing season, absorbs light energy for photosynthesis, the conversion of carbon and water to sugar. —Josie Garthwaite, Discover Magazine, 27 May 2014 Will sugar or Viagra help my Christmas tree last longer? —Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2022 This protein binds to sugar molecules on the surfaces of more than 90 different bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as to the toxins released by dead bacteria. —Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 16 Sep. 2014 Peel six lemons, add peels and raspberries to sugar and muddle well to bruise the peels and smash the berries. —Jason O'bryan, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2022 Beat in the salt and confectioners sugar a little at a time, then add the maple syrup and beat until smooth and creamy. —Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022 But he may be forced to cut down his trees and switch to sugar cane or wheat if there are a few more years of bad harvests. —Vibhuti Agarwal, WSJ, 18 June 2022 The lone star tick can also cause a rare reaction, known as alpha-gal syndrome, that causes humans to become allergic to sugar molecules in certain meats, leading to people being unable to eat red meat. —al, 13 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English sugre, sucre, from Anglo-French sucre, from Medieval Latin zuccarum, from Old Italian zucchero, from Arabic sukkar, from Persian shakar, ultimately from Sanskrit śarkarā; akin to Sanskrit śarkara pebble — more at crocodile
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing sugar
Kids Definition
sugar
1 of 2 noun sug·ar ˈshu̇g-ər
1
: a sweet substance that is made up wholly or mostly of sucrose, is colorless or white when pure, is obtained from plants (as sugarcane or sugar beets), is a source of dietary carbohydrate, and is used as a sweetener and preservative of other foods
2
: any of various water-soluble compounds that vary widely in sweetness and make up the simpler carbohydrates
sugar
2 of 2 verb sugared; sugaring ˈshu̇g-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to make something less hard to take or put up with
sugar advice with praise
2
: to sprinkle or mix with sugar
3
: to change to crystals of sugar
candy sugars when cooked too long
4
: to make maple syrup or maple sugar
Medical Definition
sugar
noun sug·ar ˈshu̇g-ər
1
: a sweet crystallizable substance that consists chiefly of sucrose, is colorless or white when pure and tending to brown when less refined, is obtained commercially from sugarcane or sugar beet and less extensively from sorghum, maples, and palms, and is important as a source of dietary carbohydrate and as a sweetener and preservative for other foods and for drugs and in the chemical industry as an intermediate
2
: any of various water-soluble compounds that vary widely in sweetness and comprise the oligosaccharides including sucrose