caramel Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun firm chewy candy made from caramelized sugar and butter and milk
  2. noun burnt sugar; used to color and flavor food
    caramelized sugar.
  3. noun a medium to dark tan color
    yellowish brown; caramel brown; raw sienna; buff.
  4. adjective satellite having the color of caramel; of a moderate yellow-brown
    caramel brown.

WordNet

Car"a*mel noun
Etymology
F. caramel (cf. Sp. caramelo), LL. canna mellis, cannamella, canamella, calamellus mellitus, sugar cane, from or confused with L. canna reed + mel, mellis, honey. See Cane.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) Burnt sugar; a brown or black porous substance obtained by heating sugar. It is soluble in water, and is used for coloring spirits, gravies, etc.
  2. A kind of confectionery, usually a small cube or square of tenacious paste, or candy, of varying composition and flavor.

Webster 1913