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View synonyms for

butter

[buht-er]

noun

  1. the fatty portion of milk, separating as a soft whitish or yellowish solid when milk or cream is agitated or churned.

  2. this substance, processed for cooking and table use.

  3. any of various other soft spreads for bread.

    apple butter; peanut butter.

  4. any of various substances of butterlike consistency, as various metallic chlorides, and certain vegetable oils solid at ordinary temperatures.



verb (used with object)

  1. to put butter on or in; spread or grease with butter.

  2. to apply a liquefied bonding material to (a piece or area), as mortar to a course of bricks.

  3. Metalworking.to cover (edges to be welded together) with a preliminary surface of the weld metal.

verb phrase

  1. Informalto flatter someone in order to gain a favor.

    He suspected that they were buttering him up when everyone suddenly started being nice to him.

butter

/ ˈʌə /

noun

    1. an edible fatty whitish-yellow solid made from cream by churning, for cooking and table use

    2. ( as modifier )

      butter icing

  1. any substance with a butter-like consistency, such as peanut butter or vegetable butter

  2. to look innocent, although probably not so

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to put butter on or in

  2. to flatter

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • butterless adjective
  • butterlike adjective
  • unbuttered adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of butter1

before 1000; Middle English; Old English butere < Latin ūٲ̄ܳ < Greek úٲ̄Dz
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Word History and Origins

Origin of butter1

Old English butere , from Latin ūٲܳ , from Greek bouturon , from bous cow + turos cheese
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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idioms beginning with butter, also see bread and butter; bread-and-butter letter; know which side of bread is buttered.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Like butter, man — it was beautiful,” he said.

From

He also wasn’t shy about scolding dining companions who committed such sins as buttering their bread or not eating all their vegetables.

From

In the Middle Ages, before refrigeration, cheese and butter were essential for preserving milk from the spring and summer for use during the colder months.

From

Once they’re slightly thickened, slowly drizzle in warm, melted butter while whisking constantly.

From

She recounted the first time she tried wild mushrooms, cutting off a small part before cooking it in butter.

From

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butt endbutter-and-egg man