[sweet] adj [ME swete, fr. OE swete; akin to OHG suozi sweet, L suadere to urge, suavis sweet, Gk hedys] (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): pleasing to the taste (2): being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is typically induced by disaccharides and is mediated esp. by receptors in taste buds at the front of the tongue--compare bitter, salt, sour b (1) of a beverage: containing a sweetening ingredient: not dry (2) of wine: retaining a portion of natural sugar
2. a: pleasing to the mind or feelings: agreeable, gratifying--often used as a generalized term of approval "how ~ it is" b: marked by gentle good humor or kindliness c: fragrant d (1): delicately pleasing to the ear or eye (2): played in a straightforward melodic style "~ jazz" e: saccharine, cloying
3: much loved: dear
4. a: not sour, rancid, decaying, or stale: wholesome "~ milk" b: not salt or salted: fresh "~ butter" c of land: free from excessive acidity d: free from noxious gases and odors e: free from excess of acid, sulfur, or corrosive salts "~ crude oil"
5: skillful, proficient "a ~ golf swing" 6--used as an intensive "take your own ~ time" -- sweet.ly adv -- sweet.ness n -- sweet on : having a crush on
[2]sweet adv (13c): in a sweet manner [3]sweet n (14c) 1: something that is sweet to the taste: as a: a food (as a candy or preserve) having a high sugar content "fill up on ~s" b Brit: dessert c Brit: hard candy
2: a sweet taste sensation
3: a pleasant or gratifying experience, possession, or state
4: darling, sweetheart
5. a archaic: fragrance b pl, archaic: things having a sweet smell