Definition

To cook sugar until it melts and turns brown, often used to enhance the flavor of food.

Example

The chef decided to caramelize the onions to bring out their natural sweetness.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you ever tried to caramelize onions for a recipe?

Yes, I did it once, and it turned out delicious!

I want to learn how to caramelize them perfectly.

It's all about patience and the right amount of heat.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Caramelize is formed from "caramel" (from French *caramel*, meaning a type of sugar syrup) and "-ize" (meaning to make or to cause to become). The word describes the process of making something into caramel or causing it to take on the qualities of caramel, typically through heating sugar.

Memory Tip

Think of turning sugar into a sweet syrup ('caramel') and adding '-ize' to mean making it happen. This helps you remember that 'caramelize' means to make something into caramel.

Visually Confused Words