butter

1 of 2

noun

but·​ter ˈbə-tər How to pronounce butter (audio)
1
: a solid emulsion of fat globules, air, and water made by churning milk or cream and used as food
2
: a buttery substance: such as
a
: any of various fatty oils remaining nearly solid at ordinary temperatures
b
: a creamy food spread
especially : one made of ground roasted nuts
peanut butter
3
butterless adjective

butter

2 of 2

verb

buttered; buttering; butters

transitive verb

: to spread with or as if with butter

Examples of butter in a Sentence

Noun Would you like some butter for your potato? Sauté the onions in melted butter. Verb butter a piece of bread
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Beat butter, sugar, and eggs until somewhat fluffy. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 22 Mar. 2024 The filled doughnut hole-sized treats come in three different flavors: cookie butter, hazelnut and apple cinnamon. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024 Handwritten Wines pairs a stylish shopping space with its tasting lounge, where the Bread and Butter wine tasting experience ($100) includes four wines, white truffle potato chips, Bouchon Bakery baguettes, artisan butters, Coppa Salame and P’tit Basque cheese. Nora Heston Tarte, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024 That company, according to the records, offers retail items such as jams and preserves, butters, tablewares, cutlery, tablecloths, cookbooks and digital recipe offerings. Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 India’s Great Curry Clash: A court in Delhi has been asked to solve a bitter dispute between two families who have very different accounts of the origins of butter chicken, a dish beloved around the world. Phoebe Zerwick, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2024 The kitchen offers several — a butter chicken burrito, a paneer burrito, a lamb curry burrito — and all are worthy. Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024 Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture, beating on low speed until just blended after each addition. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 The air smells like Parmigiano and butter, the sound system is playing the Pointer Sisters. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2024
Verb
A little can go a long way with a combo, which comes with your choice of protein, a side and buttered hot water cornbread. Brianna Taylor, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2024 The food itself was nothing special: tea and buttered toast and chicken noodle soup from a can. Emily Heil, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 But there’s a world beyond just buttering your bread! Dana McMahan, The Courier-Journal, 16 Jan. 2024 Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour mixture and beating on low speed just until blended after each addition. Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2024 Here are three ways to soften butter a little bit faster—and then a few ideas for softening butter even quicker. Molly Allen, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2024 The batter is a simple mixture of equal parts flour, sugar, and milk that is poured into a preheated and generously buttered pan. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2023 Line two 9-inch springform pans with parchment paper and butter the sides. Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 6 Dec. 2023 Generously butter the pan, line it with parchment paper, and butter the paper. Sheryl Julian, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'butter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English butere, from Latin butyrum, from Greek boutyron, from bous cow + tyros cheese; akin to Avestan tūiri- curds — more at cow

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of butter was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near butter

Cite this Entry

“Butter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butter. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

butter

1 of 2 noun
but·​ter ˈbət-ər How to pronounce butter (audio)
1
: a solid yellow fatty food made by churning milk or cream
2
: a substance resembling butter in texture or use
apple butter
buttery
-ə-rē
adjective

butter

2 of 2 verb
: to spread with or as if with butter
Etymology

Noun

Old English butere "butter," from Latin butyrum (same meaning), from Greek boutyron, from bous "ox, cow" and tyros "cheese" — related to buffalo

Medical Definition

butter

noun
but·​ter ˈbət-ər How to pronounce butter (audio)
1
: a solid emulsion of fat globules, air, and water made by churning milk or cream and used as food
2
: a buttery substance
especially : any of various fatty oils remaining nearly solid at ordinary temperatures

More from Merriam-Webster on butter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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