Definition of TREACLE

treacle

Plural: treacles

Noun

  • A thick, sticky, dark syrup made from refined sugar, like molasses.
  • a pale cane syrup
  • writing or music that is excessively sweet and sentimental
  • A syrupy byproduct of sugar refining; molasses or golden syrup.
  • Cloying sentimental speech.
  • Sweetheart (from treacle tart).
  • Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
  • Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
  • Synonym of cure: an all-powerful curative for some particular affliction.
  • Synonym of theriac: an antidote for poison, especially snakebite; a supposedly universal antidote.
  • Synonym of cure-all: a panacea for all human ailments.

Verb

  • To apply treacle to a surface, so as to catch flies or moths, etc.

Examples

  • Listen, treacle, this is the last time I'll warn you!
  • Opponents might try to play TREACLE to slow down the game and muddy your scoring plans.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English triacle, partly from Old French triacle, and partly from Old English tyriaca, both from Late Latin *triaca, *tiriaca, late form of theriaca, ultimately from Ancient Greek θηριακή (thēriakḗ, “antidote”), feminine form of θηριακός (thēriakós, “concerning venomous beasts”), from θήρ (thḗr, “beast”). Doublet of theriacle, equivalent to theriac + -le.

Synonyms

glop, golden syrup, mush, slop, cure, cure-all, theriac

Scrabble Score: 9

treacle: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
treacle: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
treacle: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

treacle: valid Words With Friends Word