Definition

Noun: A type of candy that is solid and brittle, typically made by boiling sugar and water (and often flavorings or colorings) to a high temperature until it hardens. It is characterized by its firm, breakable texture.

Usage

The term "hard candy" refers to the specific category of confectionery. It is typically used as a countable noun for individual pieces or as an uncountable noun for the substance in general. * She offered me a piece of hard candy from the bowl. (Referring to a single piece.) * The store sells a variety of hard candies in different flavors. (Referring to multiple types or pieces.) * I prefer hard candy to chewy candy. (Referring to the category in general.)

Examples

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used descriptively in a compound form, though the core definition remains the same: e.g., "fruit-flavored hard candy," "butterscotch hard candy."
• In a metaphorical sense, something described as "like hard candy" might imply it is superficially sweet but ultimately unyielding or difficult.

Variants and Related Words

• Boiled sweet (noun): A common British English synonym for "hard candy."
• Lollipop (noun): A type of hard candy on a stick.
• Rock candy (noun): A specific type of hard candy consisting of large sugar crystals, often on a string or stick.

Synonyms

• Boiled sweet
• Drop (as in "lemon drop")

Antonyms

• Soft candy
• Chewy candy
• Chocolate (when referring to its soft, meltable texture rather than its candy category)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• (As) hard as a rock candy: An informal simile emphasizing extreme hardness, though not a fixed idiom.
  • After leaving it out, the caramel became as hard as a rock candy.

Noun

1. candy that is brittle
   • you can break a tooth on that hard candy