ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sweetness

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈswitnəs// UK //swˈiːtnəs// sweet·ness Informal

n. the pleasant taste of sugar or honey. It can also describe a person who is very kind and gentle.

n. the quality of being sweet to the taste; metaphorically, a pleasing or gentle disposition in a person.


SIMPLE

The natural sweetness of the fruit makes it a great snack.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef added a pinch of salt to balance the intense sweetness of the chocolate dessert.

COMPLEX

While the physical sweetness of the nectar attracts pollinators, the metaphorical sweetness of her character is what truly endeared her to the local community.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English swetnes, swetnesse, from Old English swētnes (“sweetness”), from Proto-West Germanic *swōtinassī (“sweetness”), equivalent to sweet + -ness. Cognate with West Frisian swietens (“sweetness”), obsolete Dutch zoetenis (“sweetness”), Old High German swuoznessi, suoznessi (“sweetness”).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general quality; occasionally countable when referring to specific types of sugary flavors in technical tasting contexts.

Idioms1 entry

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