noun

marmalade

MAH-muh-layd

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Marmalade (noun) means a citrus preserve made with the peel as well as the fruit, giving it a slightly bitter edge, traditionally made from Seville oranges. Example: “She spread a thick layer of marmalade on her toast.”

noun

A citrus preserve made with the peel as well as the fruit, giving it a slightly bitter edge, traditionally made from Seville oranges.

"She spread a thick layer of marmalade on her toast."

"His grandmother's homemade marmalade won a prize at the village fete."

Informally, a cat with orange or ginger fur.

"Their marmalade cat sunbathed on the windowsill all afternoon."

How to use marmalade

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA jam-like citrus spread that includes bits of peel, or informally, an orange-coloured cat.

Common mistake

Marmalade specifically refers to citrus fruit preserves with peel; other fruit spreads without peel are usually just called jam.

Common pairings

orange marmalade toast and marmalade marmalade cat

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: marmalades
Third person singular: marmalades
Past tense: marmaladed

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She spread a thick layer of _____ on her toast.

Etymology

Traces back through French and Portuguese to a Latin word for a sweet apple, ultimately from Greek "meli" (honey) plus "melon" (apple) — the word originally meant quince jam.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for marmalade

Ade made jade wade fade sade Bade Cade Dade trade blade spade

See all rhymes for marmalade →

Frequently asked questions

What does “marmalade” mean?

The word “marmalade” means a citrus preserve made with the peel as well as the fruit, giving it a slightly bitter edge, traditionally made from Seville oranges. In plain terms, a jam-like citrus spread that includes bits of peel, or informally, an orange-coloured cat.

How do you pronounce “marmalade”?

“Marmalade” is pronounced MAH-muh-layd (/ˈmɑɹ.mə.leɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “marmalade” in a sentence?

Here is “marmalade” used in a sentence: “She spread a thick layer of marmalade on her toast.”

What part of speech is “marmalade”?

“Marmalade” is a noun.

Where does the word “marmalade” come from?

The word “marmalade” comes from Latin. Traces back through French and Portuguese to a Latin word for a sweet apple, ultimately from Greek "meli" (honey) plus "melon" (apple) — the word originally meant quince jam.

How many meanings does “marmalade” have?

“Marmalade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a citrus preserve made with the peel as well as the fruit, giving it a slightly bitter edge, traditionally made from Seville oranges.