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syrup

n. · v.
US //ˈsɝəp// UK //sˈɪɹʌp// syrup
  1. 1 sweet liquid (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

    a thick, sweet liquid made from sugar and water, often used on food like pancakes.

    a viscous liquid consisting of a concentrated solution of sugar in water, often used as a culinary topping or base.

    Example

    He poured maple syrup over his pancakes on Sunday morning.

    Example

    The chef reduced the fruit juice into a thick syrup to glaze the roasted duck before serving it to the guests.
  2. 2 medicine (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    a thick liquid medicine that you swallow.

    a pharmaceutical vehicle consisting of a saturated solution of sugar in which medicinal substances are dissolved.

    Example

    The doctor prescribed a cough syrup to help him sleep better.

    Example

    The paediatrician recommended a fruit-flavoured syrup to make the bitter antibiotic more palatable for the young child.
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  1. 3 sentimentality (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary

    something that is too sweet, emotional, or romantic in a way that feels fake.

    excessive or cloying sentimentality in art, speech, or behaviour.

    Example

    The movie was full of romantic syrup and had a very predictable ending.

    Example

    The critic dismissed the novel as pure syrup, arguing that its emotional beats were engineered rather than earned.
  2. 4 a wig (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Slang

    a slang word for a wig or hairpiece.

    a hairpiece or wig; derived from Cockney rhyming slang 'syrup of figs'.

    Example

    It was obvious to everyone in the room that the man was wearing a syrup.

    Example

    The comedian made a subtle joke about the politician's poorly fitted syrup during the late-night broadcast.

    Usage

    Usually used with the definite article 'the' or a possessive pronoun.

    Teacher's tip

    This is very specific to British English and is based on rhyming 'syrup of figs' with 'wigs'.
  3. 5 to add syrup (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Cooking

    to put syrup on something or turn something into syrup.

    to coat with or convert into a viscous, sugary substance.

    Example

    The recipe says to syrup the peaches before putting them in the jar.

    Example

    The industrial process involves heating the fruit extract until it begins to syrup, ensuring a long shelf life for the preserve.
Origin

From Middle English sirup, from Old French sirop, from Medieval Latin siruppus, syrupus, from Arabic شَرَاب (šarāb, “a drink, beverage, wine, coffee, syrup”), from شَرِبَ (šariba, “to drink”). Doublet of sirop. Related to sorbet, sherbet, sharbat. Compare French sirop, Italian siroppo, sciroppo, Spanish jarabe, jarope, Portuguese xarope, and Dutch siroop and stroop. The first known use of the spelling sirup was in the 14th century.

Idioms1 entry

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