In today�s communication system many words are used in slang to refer differently than what the actual meaning is.  A prominent slang word that I use in my vocabulary is the word �sugar.�  I think this word sugar has such great diversity in the different meanings it has.  First off, �sugar� can be used in proper noun like the music group Sugar Ray or even the former light-heavy weight boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard.  These two names in themselves are well known to the public.  The dictionary definition of the word means a sweet crystalline or powdered substance, white when pure, consisting of sucrose obtained mainly from sugar cane and sugar beets and used in many foods, drinks, and medicines to improve their taste.  You can also use �sugar� as substitution for a cuss word.   There are many other meanings to this word that I will later discuss, but the meaning I enjoy the most is the way I use it.

      This past year I had rediscovered a word that has other well-known meanings to it.  I started using �sugar� as another way to say �sweetheart� or �honey�.  I felt that �honey� always reminded me of the way my grandmother talked to me when I was younger.  And although I liked it at the time it just made me feel like I was seven again when people would call me that.  And the word �sweetheart� also seemed like a word I would call little kids, which I would whenever I would baby-sit the neighbors across the street.  It also seemed like a word of pity, for instance, �Oh sweetheart, did you hurt your knee?�  I appreciate the usage of �sweetheart� in that sense at the time when I was a child myself, but yet again not now.  So I began to call most of my friends� �sugar� whenever I feel the need to not call them by their name.  For instance, I would say, �What�s up sugar?� or �How are you today sugar?�  I just found this word to be very catchy and like the way it sounded as opposed to the other words of endearment.  The dictionary definition of this meaning is, compliment or flattery used to disguise or render acceptable something obnoxious, honeyed or soothing words.  Other ways to use this word, as terms of endearment would be either �sugar-pie� or �sugar-baby� as it was in the 1930�s.

      Other known uses of the word �sugar� are a unit, such as a lump or cube, in which sugar is dispensed or taken and in the United States and Canada it�s a verb that means in making maple sugar, to complete the process of boiling down the syrup till it is thick enough to crystallize; to approach or reach the state of granulation as stated in the New Dictionary of American Slang.

       In the Oxford English Dictionary, there are also many good uses of the word.  In 1862, the word �sugar� meant money; money available to be spent for pleasures; money east to obtain, an abundance of money. For instance, �He�s always got the sugar.�  Another term in 1974 meant a narcotic drug, specifically heroin, but could also be cocaine or morphine.

      One of the most interesting meanings that I have never heard of I found in the NTC�s Thematic Dictionary of American Slang, that instead of using the word �sugar� as in a sweetener, the word �sand� was used.  A couple simple examples of this were, �Please pass the sand� and �Do you use sand in your coffee?�

       There are numerous words used everyday out of their regular dictionary context.  It is always interesting to either overhear in a conversation or see each year or even each day what old word has a new meaning.  Although some people might see this as silly or uneducated English, I think slang words are very interesting and am exciting to see as the years go on what differences and similarities words may or may not change.