I. ˈswēt adjective
Etymology: Middle English swete, from Old English swēte; akin to Old High German suozi sweet, Latin suadēre to urge, suavis sweet, Greek hēdys
Date: before 12th century
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 especially 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 sweet it is
b. : marked by gentle good humor or kindliness
a sweet disposition
c. : fragrant
a sweet aroma
d.
(1) : delicately pleasing to the ear or eye
a sweet melody
(2) : played in a straightforward melodic style
sweet jazz
e. : saccharine , cloying
f. : very good or appealing
a sweet job offer
a sweet sports car
3. : much loved : dear
4.
a. : not sour, rancid, decaying, or stale : wholesome
sweet milk
b. : not salt or salted : fresh
sweet water
sweet butter
c. : free from excessive acidity — used especially of soil
d. : free from noxious gases and odors
e. : free from excess of acid, sulfur, or corrosive salts
sweet crude oil
5. : skillful , proficient
a sweet golf swing
6. — used as an intensive
take your own sweet time
• sweet·ly adverb
• sweet·ness noun
•
- sweet on
II. adverb
Date: 13th century
: in a sweet manner
III. noun
Date: 14th century
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 sweet s
b. British : dessert
c. British : hard candy
2. : a sweet taste sensation
3. : a pleasant or gratifying experience, possession, or state
4. : darling , sweetheart
5.
a. archaic : fragrance
b. plural , archaic : things having a sweet smell