Standard Lemma guide

caramelization

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The process that converts sugars into caramel; the process of caramelizing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The browning of sugars by heat.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: cooking, food, lifestyle

Examples

  • Slowly cooking the onions will cause caramelization which will bring out the sweetness and give them a brown color.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From caramel + -ization.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: caramel·lització — Translations
  • French: caramélisation — Translations
  • Greek: καραμελοποίηση (karamelopoíisi) — Translations
  • Polish: karmelizacja — Translations
  • Portuguese: caramelização — Translations
  • Russian: карамелиза́ция (karamelizácija) — Translations
  • Spanish: caramelización — Translations