chocolate
chocolate — noun
1. a sweet treat produced from ground cacao beans, commonly formed into bars and ad
a sweet treat produced from ground cacao beans, commonly formed into bars and added to desserts or other dishes
Theo bought a bar of dark chocolate at the corner shop.
collocation: bar of chocolate
This cake recipe needs two hundred grams of melted chocolate.
melted chocolate in baking
Kofi loves spreading chocolate on his toast for breakfast.
The baker used Belgian chocolate for the birthday cake.
Hana poured warm chocolate sauce over the vanilla ice cream.
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'a chocolate' when referring to the food ingredient. Use 'a piece of chocolate' or 'some chocolate'.
常見錯誤
2. a bite-sized confection that contains or is coated in chocolate, sometimes with
a bite-sized confection that contains or is coated in chocolate, sometimes with a soft filling
Leila gave each child a chocolate from the fancy box.
countable: a chocolate / chocolates
Priya bought a box of chocolates for her aunt's birthday.
collocation: a box of chocolates
These chocolates have soft caramel centres inside them.
Tomás offered the chocolates to his guests after dinner.
用法筆記
Countable in this sense — the plural form 'chocolates' is very common when referring to a selection of sweets.
常見錯誤
3. a warm beverage that combines powdered chocolate with hot milk or water, sweeten
a warm beverage that combines powdered chocolate with hot milk or water, sweetened to taste
The barista made a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream.
collocation: hot chocolate
Nadia drinks a mug of hot chocolate before bed every night.
collocation: a mug of hot chocolate
After playing in the snow, Rohan enjoyed a warm chocolate.
The café serves thick dark chocolate in small ceramic cups.
- cocoa
more specific — made with cocoa powder rather than block chocolate; often used interchangeably in casual speech
用法筆記
Often called 'hot chocolate' to distinguish it from the food. Countable when referring to a single serving ('a hot chocolate'), uncountable when referring to the drink in general.
常見錯誤
4. a shade of deep brown like that of the food chocolate
a shade of deep brown like that of the food chocolate
Yara painted her living room walls a rich chocolate colour.
chocolate colour / chocolate brown
The sofa was a warm chocolate brown that matched the floor.
Diego chose a chocolate-coloured coat for the winter trip.
Aiko's new handbag was a deep chocolate shade.
用法筆記
Commonly used in compound forms: 'chocolate brown', 'chocolate-coloured'. Not used to describe food in this sense — it only refers to a colour.
常見錯誤
chocolate — adjective
1. made with or tasting of chocolate
made with or tasting of chocolate
The children asked for chocolate ice cream after lunch.
chocolate + noun (ice cream, cake, etc.)
Priya bought a chocolate croissant from the local bakery.
Rohan ordered a chocolate milkshake with extra toppings.
The chocolate cake had three layers and creamy filling.
用法筆記
Attributive only — placed before a noun. You cannot say 'This cake is chocolate' (use 'This is a chocolate cake' or 'This cake tastes of chocolate').
常見錯誤
2. coloured a deep shade of brown similar to chocolate
coloured a deep shade of brown similar to chocolate
The cat had beautiful chocolate fur and bright green eyes.
chocolate as a colour adjective
Leila wore a chocolate dress to her sister's wedding.
Their new kitchen cabinets were a warm chocolate shade.
The puppy's chocolate coat shone in the afternoon sun.
- brown
the general colour; chocolate is a deeper, warmer shade
- dark brown
more precise than 'brown'; chocolate typically means a rich dark brown
用法筆記
Attributive only. Also common in the compound form 'chocolate-coloured'. Use 'chocolate' not 'chocolate-coloured' when the colour is well-established (e.g. 'chocolate Labrador', 'chocolate leather').