sugar

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical

n. a type of substance your body uses for energy, found in many foods.

n. any of a class of water-soluble crystalline carbohydrates, including sucrose, glucose, and fructose.

“Fruit contains natural sugars that give you a quick energy boost.”

“The biologist explained how the plant converts sunlight into simple sugars through the process of photosynthesis.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a kind name you call someone you love or like, such as a partner or a child.

n. a term of endearment used to address a person one likes or loves.

“Give me a hug, sugar, it is so good to see you.”

“In many parts of the American South, it is common for strangers to address one another as sugar in casual conversation.”

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Computing Technical

n. extra code that makes a programming language easier for humans to read and write.

n. syntax within a programming language that is designed to make things easier to read or to express.

“This new version of the language adds some nice sugar for handling lists.”

“While the compiler treats both forms identically, the syntactic sugar makes the codebase significantly more maintainable for the engineering team.”

B1 · Intermediate Cooking

v. to add sugar to food or a drink.

v. to sweeten something by adding sugar.

Español:azucarar

“She sugared her tea and stirred it slowly with a silver spoon.”

“The chef lightly sugared the tart berries to balance their natural acidity before serving them with cream.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make something difficult or bad seem better than it really is.

v. to make something unpleasant or blunt seem more acceptable or attractive.

“There is no point trying to sugar the news; the company is closing.”

“The politician attempted to sugar the tax increase by promising it would only affect the wealthiest citizens.”

B1 · Intermediate Informal · British English

interj. a word you say when you are slightly annoyed or have made a small mistake.

interj. a mild exclamation of annoyance or surprise, used as a polite substitute for a swear word.

“Oh sugar, I have forgotten my keys again.”

“Sugar, I think I just missed the last train home for the evening.”