dairy

[ dair-ee ]

noun

, plural dair·ies

1. an establishment, as a room, building, or buildings, where milk and cream are kept and butter and cheese are made.
2. a shop or company that sells milk, butter, etc.
3. the business of a dairy farm, concerned with the production and treatment of milk and cream and the manufacture of butter and cheese.
4. dairy farm.
5. milk, or products made from or containing milk; dairy products, as butter and cheese:

   He avoids red meat, processed foods, and dairy in his diet.

6. (in Jewish dietary law) foods, including all milk products, eggs, fish, vegetables, etc., that may be eaten at a meal in which milk is served, in contrast to meat and meat products, which may not.

adjective

1. of or relating to a dairy or a dairy farm.
2. relating to or for milk, cream, butter, cheese, etc.:

   dairy products; the dairy case at a supermarket.

3. (in Jewish dietary law) of or relating to dairy, in contrast to meat and meat products.

dairy

/ ˈdɛərɪ /

noun

1. a company that supplies milk and milk products
2. 1. a shop that sells provisions, esp milk and milk products
   2. a shop that remains open outside normal trading hours
3. a room or building where milk and cream are stored or made into butter and cheese
4. 1. modifier of or relating to the production of milk and milk products

      dairy cattle

   2. ( in combination )

      a dairymaid

      a dairyman

5. 1. food containing milk or milk products

      she can't eat dairy

   2. ( as modifier )

      dairy produce

Word History and Origins

Origin of dairy¹

1250–1300; Middle English daierie, equivalent to daie, deie dairymaid ( Old English dǣge bread maker; cognate with Old Norse deigja; lady ) + -erie -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of dairy¹

C13 daierie, from Old English dǣge servant girl, one who kneads bread; see dough , lady

Example Sentences

The bird flu crisis, driven by the H5N1 virus, began several years ago, but ramped up considerably in April when dairy cows started becoming infected.

From Salon

"We felt these four diet scenarios gave us a good variation of diet types from low meat to higher quantities of meat and dairy while also maintaining cultural relevance," noted DeCesaro.

From Science Daily

Research by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs suggests a third of farmers in Northern Ireland will be affected, with the dairy sector particularly badly hit.

From BBC

In the wake of the recall, several Costco customers poked fun at the ridiculousness of warning customers that butter is made from a dairy product.

From Salon

As H5N1 bird flu spreads among California dairy herds and southward-migrating birds, health officials announced Friday that six more human cases of infection: five in California and one in Oregon — the state’s first.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dairy farm