# molasses

/məˈɫæsəz/ (US) · /məlˈæsɪz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/molasses
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. thick syrup

noun · CEFR B2

a thick, dark syrup made from sugar plants, used in cooking and baking.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. slow movement

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

something that moves or happens very slowly.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. geological rock

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of rock made of sand and clay that forms near rising mountains.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The recipe calls for a cup of molasses to add sweetness.
- The factory produced large quantities of molasses as a byproduct of the sugar refining process.
- The traditional recipe requires a specific grade of molasses to achieve the deep, caramel-like flavor that distinguishes the dish from modern alternatives.

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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.