Definition

Noun: A small, soft, chewy candy made from a sweetened gelatin or pectin base, typically fruit-flavored and coated with coarse granulated sugar crystals.

Usage

The word "gumdrop" is a countable noun. It refers to a specific type of confectionery. It is commonly used in the singular form when referring to one piece and in the plural form ("gumdrops") when referring to multiple pieces or a bag/box of them.

Examples

• She placed a single red gumdrop on top of the gingerbread house as decoration.
• The recipe calls for a cup of assorted gumdrops to be chopped and added to the cookie dough.
• His favorite candy from the old-fashioned sweetshop was the licorice-flavored gumdrop.

Advanced Usage

• As a modifier: "Gumdrop" can be used attributively to describe other nouns related to this candy.
  • The gumdrop buttons on the cake looked adorable.
• Figurative use (rare): Sometimes used poetically or descriptively to refer to something small, colorful, and sweet-looking.
  • From the plane, the lights of the town looked like scattered gumdrops.

Variants and Related Words

• Gumdrop tree (n): A colloquial name for certain trees, like the black tupelo (), whose small, dark blue fruits are reminiscent of the candy. This is a separate compound noun.
• Jelly candy (n): A broader category of confections that includes gumdrops, jellies, and similar sweets.

Synonyms

• Jelly candy
• Jelly sweet (UK)
• Jube (Australian)

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, as it is a specific object. Contrasting terms might include savory snack or bitter herb.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Goody two-shoes / Goody-goody (derogatory): While not containing the word "gumdrop," this idiom describes a person who is smugly or obnoxiously virtuous. In a highly specific and dated caricature, such a person might be associated with overly sweet, innocent things like gumdrops, but this is not a standard idiom.
• Sweet as a gumdrop: A similesometimes used for emphasis, meaning very sweet (either in taste or disposition).
  • The little girl was as sweet as a gumdrop.

Noun

1. a jellied candy coated with sugar crystals