Definition of: caramel

(kar′ə·məl, -mel, kär′məl) noun
1. A confection, variously colored and flavored, composed of sugar, butter, and other ingredients.
2. Burnt sugar; the brown or black, soluble material obtained by heating sugar or molasses, or from starch by converting it into glucose: used to color soups, liquids, gravies, and the like.
3. A reddish tan, the color of burnt sugar. [<F, alter. of OF calemele <Med. L calamellus, alter. of canna mellis sugarcane, under the infl. of L calamus reed]