marmalade
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a type of jam made from citrus fruit, like oranges, that includes pieces of the fruit skin and has a slightly bitter taste.
n.a preserve made by boiling the pulp and rind of citrus fruits with sugar. It is distinguished from standard jam by its characteristic bitterness and the inclusion of fruit peel.
Simple“He spread some orange marmalade on his toast for breakfast.”
In context“The traditional recipe calls for Seville oranges, which provide the sharp acidity and bitterness essential for a high-quality marmalade.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the substance; countable when referring to a specific variety or jar.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a cat that has orange or ginger-coloured fur.
n.a descriptive term for a domestic cat possessing ginger or orange-toned fur.
Simple“A large marmalade cat was sleeping in the sunny spot on the rug.”
In context“The stray was a friendly marmalade tomcat that had become a permanent fixture in the neighbourhood's communal garden.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to put marmalade on a piece of bread or toast.
v.to apply marmalade to a food item. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Simple“She quickly marmaladed her toast before rushing out the door.”
In context“He sat at the breakfast table, methodically marmalading each slice of sourdough while reading the morning headlines.”
Borrowed from Middle French marmelade, from Portuguese marmelada (“quince jam”), from marmelo (“quince”), from Latin melimēlum (“sweet apple”), from Ancient Greek μελίμηλον (melímēlon), from μέλι (méli, “honey”) + μῆλον (mêlon, “apple”). A false folk etymology claims that this comes from the French phrase “Marie est malade” (“Mary is ill”), referring to Mary, Queen of Scots, falling ill and being given marmalade to feel better.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.