n. & v.
--n.
1. a sweet crystalline substance obtained from various plants, esp. the sugar cane and sugar beet, used in cookery, confectionery, brewing, etc.; sucrose.
2 Chem. any of a group of soluble usu. sweet-tasting crystalline carbohydrates found esp. in plants, e.g. glucose.
3 esp. US colloq. darling, dear (used as a term of address).
4 sweet words; flattery.
5 anything comparable to sugar encasing a pill in reconciling a person to what is unpalatable.
6 sl. a narcotic drug, esp. heroin or LSD (taken on a lump of sugar).
--v.tr.
1. sweeten with sugar.
2 make (one's words, meaning, etc.) more pleasant or welcome.
3 coat with sugar (sugared almond).
4 spread a sugar mixture on (a tree) to catch moths.
Phrases and idioms:
sugar beet a beet, Beta vulgaris, from which sugar is extracted. sugar-candy see CANDY 1. sugar cane Bot. any perennial tropical grass of the genus Saccharum, esp. S. officinarum, with tall stout jointed stems from which sugar is made. sugar-coated
1. (of food) enclosed in sugar.
2 made superficially attractive. sugar-daddy (pl. -ies) sl. an elderly man who lavishes gifts on a young woman. sugar-gum Bot. an Australian eucalyptus, Eucalyptus cladocalyx, with sweet foliage eaten by cattle. sugar loaf a conical moulded mass of sugar. sugar-maple any of various trees, esp. Acer saccharum, from the sap of which sugar is made. sugar of lead Chem. lead acetate (see LEAD(2)). sugar-pea a variety of pea eaten whole including the pod. sugar the pill see PILL. sugar soap an alkaline compound for cleaning or removing paint.
Derivatives:
sugarless adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF {ccedil}ukre, sukere f. It. zucchero prob. f. med.L succarum f. Arab. sukkar