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. Informal. to 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

/ ˈbʌtə /

noun

1. 1. an edible fatty whitish-yellow solid made from cream by churning, for cooking and table use
   2. ( as modifier ) butyraceous

      butter icing

2. any substance with a butter-like consistency, such as peanut butter or vegetable butter
3. look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth
   to look innocent, although probably not so

verb

1. to put butter on or in
2. to flatter

Other Words From

• butter·less adjective
• butter·like adjective
• un·buttered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of butter¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English butere < Latin būtȳrum < Greek boútȳron

Word History and Origins

Origin of butter¹

Old English butere , from Latin būtyrum , from Greek bouturon , from bous cow + turos cheese

Idioms and Phrases

• bread and butter
• bread-and-butter letter
• know which side of bread is buttered

Example Sentences

The first-time elected official — she prefers that title over “politician” because it “impresses on people that this is not something you’re given” — plans to focus on “bread and butter issues” the moment she enters office.

From Los Angeles Times

At The Noortwyck, we have the foie gras butter that pairs with our Duck Bun and we also include it in the albufera sauce for our chicken dish.

From Salon

Butter, calabrian chili and sherry vinegar.

From Salon

Twitter knew well that these areas were its bread and butter.

From Slate

Palmer’s bread and butter is still acting.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• margarine
• oil
• shortening