TREACLE Meaning and
Definition
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Treacle is a noun that can be defined in a few different ways, primarily referring to a thick, dark and sticky substance obtained from the refining of sugar cane or sugar beet. It is commonly used as a sweetener or flavoring in cooking, baking, and confectionery.
Firstly, treacle can refer to a dark, viscous syrup that is a byproduct of the process of refining sugar. This syrup is sweet and has a distinct molasses-like flavor. It is often used to add depth and sweetness to various dishes, such as cakes, puddings, and sauces.
Secondly, treacle can also be used colloquially to describe something as excessively sentimental or melodramatic. In this context, it is often used to describe a piece of writing, speech, or even a person's behavior that is overindulgent in sentiment or emotion.
The term can also be used metaphorically to describe a situation or circumstance that is perceived as excessively sticky, slow-moving, or difficult to escape from. It portrays a sense of being trapped or bogged down.
In British English, the word "treacle" is also used to refer to a thick, sweet syrup called "golden syrup," which is commonly used as a topping or ingredient in desserts, pancakes, and baked goods.
Overall, treacle can refer to a sweet, dark syrup used in cooking and baking, as well as figuratively describe sentimental or sticky situations.
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1. Theriaca. 2. Molasses.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A preparation so called because it was good againist the bite of vipers, or because supposed to be made of viper's flesh; the syrup which drains from the sugar-refiner's moulds; molasses; a saccharine fluid obtained from the juices of certain vegetables.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for TREACLE *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for TREACLE
Etymology of TREACLE
The word "treacle" has an interesting etymology. It can be traced back to the Latin word "theriaca", which means an antidote for poison. In ancient times, "theriaca" referred to a specific concoction made from snake venom and other ingredients believed to have medicinal properties.
This Latin term was borrowed into Old French as "triacle" during the medieval period. In Old French, "triacle" gained an extended meaning, referring to any healing substance or antidote, not necessarily limited to snake venom. From Old French, the word entered Middle English as "triacle".
Over time, the pronunciation and spelling changed in English, and it evolved into the word "treacle". Originally, "treacle" was used to refer to a specific compound similar to the therapeutic "theriaca".
Similar spelling words for TREACLE
- tray cloth,
- trackless,
- Trosclair,
- tracheal,
- triclinic,
- treacly,
- Traxler,
- truckler,
- trexler,
- troxler,
- trisler,
- trickle,
- tressler,
- truckle.
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