# chocolate

/ˈtʃɔkɫət/ (US) · /tʃˈɒklət/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chocolate
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sweet food

noun · CEFR A1

a sweet, usually brown food made from roasted cocoa beans.

For teachers: a food preparation of roasted and ground cacao seeds, typically sweetened and flavoured.

- I bought a large bar of dark chocolate to share with my friends.
- The artisan tempered the chocolate until it achieved a glossy finish and a satisfying snap when broken.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the substance in general.

### 2. a single candy

noun · CEFR A2

a small, individual piece of candy made of or covered in chocolate.

For teachers: an individual praline or piece of confectionery made from or coated in chocolate.

- He offered me a chocolate from the box he received for his birthday.
- The box contained an assortment of hand-rolled chocolates, each filled with a different fruit ganache or salted caramel.

Usage: Countable in this sense.

### 3. hot drink

noun · CEFR A1

a drink made by mixing chocolate or cocoa powder with hot milk or water.

For teachers: a beverage consisting of chocolate or cocoa powder dissolved in hot milk or water.

- We sat by the fire and drank hot chocolate after skiing all day.
- The café serves a thick, traditional Italian chocolate that is almost the consistency of pudding.

### 4. colour

noun · CEFR B1

a dark, reddish-brown colour.

For teachers: a deep, dark brown hue resembling the colour of processed cocoa.

- The walls of the library were painted a deep, rich chocolate.
- The designer recommended a palette of cream and chocolate to create a warm, sophisticated atmosphere in the master bedroom.

### 5. made of chocolate

adjective · CEFR A1

made with or tasting like chocolate.

For teachers: composed of, containing, or having the flavour of chocolate.

- She baked a delicious chocolate cake for the party.
- The chef prepared a chocolate fondant with a molten centre, served alongside a tart raspberry coulis.

### 6. biology/lab

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to heat a specific substance used for growing bacteria in a lab.

For teachers: to treat blood agar by heating it to lyse red blood cells, creating a medium for bacterial culture.

- The technician had to chocolate the agar before starting the experiment.
- The protocol requires the researcher to chocolate the blood agar carefully to ensure the release of growth factors necessary for the fastidious organisms.

Usage: Used as a transitive verb in laboratory contexts.

## Examples

- I love eating dark chocolate after dinner.
- The pastry chef melted the chocolate slowly over a bowl of hot water to ensure a smooth texture for the cake.
- Artisanal producers often emphasize the specific origin of their cacao beans to highlight the complex flavor profiles inherent in high-quality chocolate.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.