Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, round candy: A sugarplum is a type of small, sweet confectionery, traditionally made from hardened sugar in a round or oval shape.
   • A sweetmeat or bonbon: Historically, it refers to a comfit—a seed, nut, or piece of spice coated with layers of hard sugar.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The children dreamed of sugarplums dancing in their heads.
  • She offered me a bowl of old-fashioned sugarplums.

Advanced Usage

• "Sugarplum fairy": A term popularized by Tchaikovsky's ballet , referring to a character, the Sugar Plum Fairy, who rules the Land of Sweets.
  • The role of the Sugarplum Fairy is a highlight of the ballet.

Variants and Related Words

• Sugarplum is a closed compound noun. Related words include:
  • Bonbon (n): A small chocolate or fondant candy.
  • Comfit (n): A confection consisting of a nut, seed, or spice coated with sugar.

Synonyms

• Sweetmeat: An old-fashioned term for a sweet delicacy, such as a candy or piece of crystallized fruit.
• Confection: A general term for a sweet food item, especially one made with sugar.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Dancing sugarplums": Often used to describe fanciful, happy dreams or visions, originating from the line "visions of sugarplums danced in their heads" in Clement Clarke Moore's poem .
  • After hearing the good news, she had visions of sugarplums all night.

Noun

1. any of various small sugary candies