Word
molasses
Phoneticsmo·lasses
US/məˈɫæsəz/
UK/məlˈæsɪz/
Definitions
01thick syrup
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. a thick, dark syrup made from sugar plants, used in cooking and baking.
n. the thick, dark, viscous syrup that remains after sugar has been crystallised from cane or beet juice.
“The recipe calls for a spoonful of molasses to give the cookies a rich flavour.”
“Traditional gingerbread recipes rely on the distinctively bitter-sweet profile of unsulphured molasses to achieve the desired depth of flavour and moisture.”
02slow movement
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal
n. something that moves or happens very slowly.
n. used figuratively to describe a person, process, or substance that moves with extreme slowness.
“The traffic was moving like molasses in January during the snowstorm.”
“Bureaucratic progress on the new infrastructure project has been moving like molasses, frustrating local residents who expected a faster resolution.”
03geological rock
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. a type of rock made of sand and clay that forms near rising mountains.
n. a sequence of sedimentary rocks consisting of sandstones, shales, and conglomerates formed in a foreland basin.
“The geologists studied the layers of molasses to understand how the mountains formed.”
“The thick deposits of Alpine molasses provide critical evidence for the timing of tectonic uplift and subsequent erosion cycles in the region.”
Usage
Usually spelled 'molasse' in geological contexts, though 'molasses' appears in older texts.
Real-World Examples
“It is thick, dark and sweet, as it often includes molasses or caramel.” “For this test, they chose their Forest Blend beans, noted for their dark chocolate, molasses, and walnut notes, creamy body, low acidity, and a sweet, lingering finish.” “Molasses retards crystallization too, by altering the ratio of glucose to fructose.” Etymology
From Portuguese melaços or Spanish melazos, from Late Latin mellacium (“must, honey-sweet thing”), from mel (“honey”) + -āceus (“-aceous”) + -ium, q.v. Some alternative forms derived or influenced by Spanish melaza and French mélasse, conjectured to derive from unattested Late Latin mellacea, from mel + -ācea.
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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