Sugar cane

Sugar Sug"ar, n. [OE. sugre, F. sucre (cf. It. zucchero, Sp. az['u]car), fr. Ar. sukkar, assukkar, fr. Skr. [,c]arkar[=a] sugar, gravel; cf. Per. shakar. Cf. {Saccharine}, {Sucrose}.] 1. A sweet white (or brownish yellow) crystalline substance, of a sandy or granular consistency, obtained by crystallizing the evaporated juice of certain plants, as the sugar cane, sorghum, beet root, sugar maple, etc. It is used for seasoning and preserving many kinds of food and drink. Ordinary sugar is essentially sucrose. See the Note below. [1913 Webster]

Note: The term sugar includes several commercial grades, as the white or refined, granulated, loaf or lump, and the raw brown or muscovado. In a more general sense, it includes several distinct chemical compounds, as the glucoses, or grape sugars (including glucose proper, dextrose, and levulose), and the sucroses, or true sugars (as cane sugar). All sugars are carbohydrates. See {Carbohydrate}. The glucoses, or grape sugars, are ketone alcohols of the formula {C6H12O6}, and they turn the plane of polarization to the right or the left. They are produced from the amyloses and sucroses, as by the action of heat and acids of ferments, and are themselves decomposed by fermentation into alcohol and carbon dioxide. The only sugar (called acrose) as yet produced artificially belongs to this class. The sucroses, or cane sugars, are doubled glucose anhydrides of the formula {C12H22O11}. They are usually not fermentable as such (cf. {Sucrose}), and they act on polarized light. [1913 Webster]

2. By extension, anything resembling sugar in taste or appearance; as, sugar of lead (lead acetate), a poisonous white crystalline substance having a sweet taste. [1913 Webster]

3. Compliment or flattery used to disguise or render acceptable something obnoxious; honeyed or soothing words. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

{Acorn sugar}. See {Quercite}.

{Cane sugar}, sugar made from the sugar cane; sucrose, or an isomeric sugar. See {Sucrose}.

{Diabetes sugar}, or {Diabetic sugar} (Med. Chem.), a variety of sugar (grape sugar or dextrose) excreted in the urine in diabetes mellitus; -- the presence of such a sugar in the urine is used to diagnose the illness.

{Fruit sugar}. See under {Fruit}, and {Fructose}.

{Grape sugar}, a sirupy or white crystalline sugar (dextrose or glucose) found as a characteristic ingredient of ripe grapes, and also produced from many other sources. See {Dextrose}, and {Glucose}.

{Invert sugar}. See under {Invert}.

{Malt sugar}, a variety of sugar isomeric with sucrose, found in malt. See {Maltose}.

{Manna sugar}, a substance found in manna, resembling, but distinct from, the sugars. See {Mannite}.

{Milk sugar}, a variety of sugar characteristic of fresh milk, and isomeric with sucrose. See {Lactose}.

{Muscle sugar}, a sweet white crystalline substance isomeric with, and formerly regarded to, the glucoses. It is found in the tissue of muscle, the heart, liver, etc. Called also {heart sugar}. See {Inosite}.

{Pine sugar}. See {Pinite}.

{Starch sugar} (Com. Chem.), a variety of dextrose made by the action of heat and acids on starch from corn, potatoes, etc.; -- called also {potato sugar}, {corn sugar}, and, inaccurately, {invert sugar}. See {Dextrose}, and {Glucose}.

{Sugar barek}, one who refines sugar.

{Sugar beet} (Bot.), a variety of beet ({Beta vulgaris}) with very large white roots, extensively grown, esp. in Europe, for the sugar obtained from them.

{Sugar berry} (Bot.), the hackberry.

{Sugar bird} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of small South American singing birds of the genera {C[oe]reba}, {Dacnis}, and allied genera belonging to the family {C[oe]rebid[ae]}. They are allied to the honey eaters.

{Sugar bush}. See {Sugar orchard}.

{Sugar camp}, a place in or near a sugar orchard, where maple sugar is made.

{Sugar candian}, sugar candy. [Obs.]

{Sugar candy}, sugar clarified and concreted or crystallized; candy made from sugar.

{Sugar cane} (Bot.), a tall perennial grass ({Saccharum officinarium}), with thick short-jointed stems. It has been cultivated for ages as the principal source of sugar.

{Sugar loaf}. (a) A loaf or mass of refined sugar, usually in the form of a truncated cone. (b) A hat shaped like a sugar loaf. [1913 Webster]

Why, do not or know you, grannam, and that sugar loaf? --J. Webster. [1913 Webster]

{Sugar maple} (Bot.), the rock maple ({Acer saccharinum}). See {Maple}.

{Sugar mill}, a machine for pressing out the juice of the sugar cane, usually consisting of three or more rollers, between which the cane is passed.

{Sugar mite}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) A small mite ({Tyroglyphus sacchari}), often found in great numbers in unrefined sugar. (b) The lepisma.

{Sugar of lead}. See {Sugar}, 2, above.

{Sugar of milk}. See under {Milk}.

{Sugar orchard}, a collection of maple trees selected and preserved for purpose of obtaining sugar from them; -- called also, sometimes, {sugar bush}. [U.S.] --Bartlett.

{Sugar pine} (Bot.), an immense coniferous tree ({Pinus Lambertiana}) of California and Oregon, furnishing a soft and easily worked timber. The resinous exudation from the stumps, etc., has a sweetish taste, and has been used as a substitute for sugar.

{Sugar squirrel} (Zo["o]l.), an Australian flying phalanger ({Belideus sciureus}), having a long bushy tail and a large parachute. It resembles a flying squirrel. See Illust. under {Phlanger}.

{Sugar tongs}, small tongs, as of silver, used at table for taking lumps of sugar from a sugar bowl.

{Sugar tree}. (Bot.) See {Sugar maple}, above. [1913 Webster]