sirup: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, culinary, and medicinal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “sirup” mean?
A thick, sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in water, often flavored or containing fruit juice, used as a topping or ingredient.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thick, sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in water, often flavored or containing fruit juice, used as a topping or ingredient.
In medicine, a thick, sweet liquid used as a vehicle for delivering drugs; in industry, a concentrated sugar solution; metaphorically, something excessively sentimental or sweet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor. In the UK, 'golden syrup' is a specific, common product (a light treacle). In the US, 'pancake syrup' (often corn syrup-based) and 'maple syrup' are highly frequent terms. The medicinal sense is common in both.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with 'golden syrup' for baking/desserts. US: Strongly associated with 'maple syrup' for pancakes/waffles.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties due to culinary use. The US likely has higher frequency due to the iconic status of maple syrup.
Grammar
How to Use “sirup” in a Sentence
[pour] + syrup + [over/on] + NP[make] + syrup + [from] + NP[take] + syrup + [for] + NP (medical)[be] + [made into] + syrupVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sirup” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- She drizzled golden syrup over her porridge.
- This cough syrup tastes of blackcurrant.
American English
- He soaked his pancakes in pure maple syrup.
- The recipe calls for a cup of corn syrup.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In food manufacturing: 'The company specializes in producing organic agave syrup.'
Academic
In chemistry/food science: 'The solution was concentrated to a syrupy consistency.'
Everyday
Can you pass the maple syrup? The doctor prescribed a cherry-flavoured cough syrup.
Technical
Pharmacology: 'The active ingredient is suspended in a sorbitol-based syrup.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sirup”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sirup”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sirup”
- Misspelling as 'sirup' (archaic) or 'syrop'. Using as a countable noun ('*two syrups'). Incorrect preposition: '*syrup in pancakes' instead of 'syrup on pancakes'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Syrup is a general term for a thick, sweet liquid. Molasses is a specific, dark, less sweet syrup that is a by-product of refining sugarcane or sugar beets into sugar.
It is primarily uncountable (e.g., 'some syrup', 'a lot of syrup'). It can be countable when referring to types or bottles of syrup (e.g., 'The store sells three different syrups').
In both UK and US English, it is most commonly pronounced /ˈsɪr.əp/ (SEER-up). Some US regional accents may say /ˈsɝː.əp/ (SIR-up).
Literally, it means having the consistency of syrup (thick and sweet). Figuratively, it describes something overly sentimental, emotional, or sweet in a cloying way (e.g., a syrupy love song).
A thick, sweet liquid made by dissolving sugar in water, often flavored or containing fruit juice, used as a topping or ingredient.
Sirup is usually neutral. common in everyday, culinary, and medicinal contexts. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “-”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SIR (a knight) drinking a sweet liquid from a UP-turned cup. Sir + Up = Syrup.
Conceptual Metaphor
SWEETNESS IS PLEASANT / EXCESSIVE SWEETNESS IS CLOYING (e.g., 'a syrupy sentiment'). LIQUID IS A VEHICLE (for medicine/flavour).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical use of the word 'syrup'?