marshmallow

(märs̸hmel′ō, -mal′ō)

noun

  1. a sweet paste first made from the root of the marsh mallow, and now made of sugar, starch, corn syrup, and gelatin
  2. a soft, spongy confection, in the form of small, rounded pieces coated with powdered sugar, made of this paste

See marshmallow in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. A light, spongy, very sweet confection made of corn syrup, gelatin, sugar, and starch and dusted with powdered sugar.
    b. A confection of sweetened paste, formerly made from the root of the marshmallow plant.
  2. often marsh mallow Botany A perennial plant (Althaea officinalis) native to Europe and naturalized in marshes of eastern North America, having showy pink flowers and a mucilaginous root occasionally used as a demulcent and in confectionery.
  3. Slang A timid, cowardly, or ineffective person.

Related Forms:

  • marshˈmalˌlow·y adjective

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