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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

marshmallow en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈmɑɹʃˌmɛl.oʊ/ (US)
  • /mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈmɑɹʃˌmæl.oʊ/ (US)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From Old English mersċmealwe, corresponding to marsh + mallow.

Meanings

  1. (countable, uncountable) Marsh mallow, a species of mallow, Althaea officinalis, that grows in marshy terrain.
    • Our common Marsh Mallows have diverse soft, hoary white stalks rising to be three or four foot high, spreading forth many branches. 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society, published 2007, page 180:
  2. (countable, uncountable) A type of confectionery, originally (since Ancient Egyptian times) made from this plant, but now generally made of sugar or corn syrup, gelatin that has been presoftened in water, gum arabic, flavorings, and sometimes beaten egg whites, all whipped to a spongy consistency.
    • The Disagreeable Girl is a female of the genus homo persuasion, built around a digestive apparatus that possesses marked marshmallow proclivities. 1906, Elbert Hubbard, Love, Life and Work:
    • It was an apple marshmallow sundae, I recollect. I dug my spoon into it with an assumption of gaiety which I was far from feeling. December 1915, P. G. Wodehouse, “My Battle with Drink”, in Vanity Fair:
  3. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) Someone who is soft and benign.
    • He acts like a total badass, but he's really just a marshmallow once you get to know him.
    • You're a marshmallow, Glenn. 1995, Chrono Trigger:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
marshmallows Number=Plur lexicographic
marsh mallow alternative lexicographic
marsh-mallow alternative lexicographic

Deriveds

marshmallowy · marshmallow creme · marbit · marshmallow fluff

Descendants

마시멜로 · маршмэ́ллоу · marshmallow · マシュマロ · marshmallow · marshmallow · Marshmallow

Translations (62)

ro bezea (confectionery) · sv marshmallow (confectionery) · es marshmallow (confectionery) · pl pianka (confectionery) · pt merengue (confectionery) · ru маршмэ́ллоу (confectionery) · es sustancia (confectionery) · es marsmalow (confectionery) · es bombón (confectionery) · it cotone dolce (confectionery) · da marshmallow (confectionery) · es malvavisco (confectionery) · hu pillecukor (confectionery) · mk маршмело (confectionery) · ar خِطْمِيّ (confectionery) · ja マシュマロ (confectionery) · yi מאַרשמעלאָו (confectionery) · es espumilla (confectionery) · ca pasta de malví (confectionery) · fr guimauve (confectionery) · da skumfidus (confectionery) · ro nalbă (confectionery) · es carlotina (confectionery) · de Marshmallow (confectionery) · pt maxemelo (confectionery) · hy մարշմելոու (confectionery) · th มาร์ชแมลโลว์ (confectionery) · nl marshmallow (confectionery) · yue 棉花糖 (confectionery) · fa مارشمالو (confectionery) · ko 마시멜로 (confectionery) · is sykurpúði (confectionery) · yi שניי־קישעלע (confectionery) · cmn 軟糖 /软糖 (confectionery) · cmn 果醬軟糖 /果酱软糖 (confectionery) · fr marshmallow (confectionery) · la pasta hibisci (confectionery) · fa پفنبات (confectionery) · hu mályvacukor (confectionery) · af marshmallow (confectionery) · mi māngohe (confectionery) · af malvalekker (confectionery) · stq Malve (confectionery) · it marshmallow (confectionery) · fi vaahtokarkki (confectionery) · es nubes (confectionery) · nb marshmallow (confectionery) · he מרשמלו (confectionery) · cmn 棉花糖 (confectionery) · de Mäusespeck (confectionery) · fr chamallow (confectionery) · es mashmelo (confectionery) · es masmelo (confectionery) · fo skúmgæti (confectionery) · it toffoletta (confectionery) · pt marshmallow (confectionery) · yi מאַרשמאַלאָו (confectionery) · mr मार्शमेलो (confectionery) · es marsmelo (confectionery) · ga leamhachán (confectionery) · cy malws melys (confectionery) · es masmalow (confectionery)

marshmallow en · VERB

Pronunciation

  • /ˈmɑɹʃˌmɛl.oʊ/ (US)
  • /mɑːʃˈmæləʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈmɑɹʃˌmæl.oʊ/ (US)
  • (US) audio

Etymology

From Old English mersċmealwe, corresponding to marsh + mallow.

Meanings

  1. (intransitive, transitive) To soften (literally or figuratively).
    • He didn't know if touching me meant that I would marshmallow up or if he would have to brace himself for a blow. 2005, Joylynn Jossel, If I Ruled the World:
    • For i could still feel her small face in my hands, her lips marshmallowing under the brushing knuckle of my index, the hard press of her capable contoured body. 2005, Ken Gunther, Lilith: A Biography:
    • Various dishes heaped with food were tucked haphazardly all over: mounds of whipped potatoes, medleys of buttered vegetables, marshmallowed sweet potatoes, oyster stuffing, cranberry sauce (fresh from the can) and even more dishes 2011, JB Sanders, Glen & Tyler's Honeymoon Adventure:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
marshmallowing Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
marsh mallow alternative lexicographic
marshmallows Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
marshmallowed Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
marshmallowed Tense=Past lexicographic
marsh-mallow alternative lexicographic