butter

1 of 2

noun

but·​ter ˈbə-tər 

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

: flattery

butterless

ˈbə-tər-ləs 

adjective

butter

2 of 2

verb

buttered; buttering; butters

transitive verb

: to spread with or as if with butter

Synonyms of butter

Noun

• taffy
• flattery
• praise
• soft soap
• incense
• sweet talk
• flannel
• adulation

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

John Lawson vividly remembers the moment a butter-yellow ice cream truck first turned up in New York’s Tribeca neighborhood in 2008. —Mara Weinraub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025

Lighten Your Dairy Choices Traditional mashed potatoes rely on butter, full-fat milk, or heavy cream for their creaminess. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 24 Nov. 2025

Verb

With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2025

Sides of salad, mushrooms, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, whipped sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, buttered corn, stuffing and cranberry sauce can be purchased a la carte. —Elaine Rewolinski, jsonline.com, 3 Nov. 2025

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

Phrases Containing butter

• apple butter
• bread and butter
• butter-and-eggs
• butter bean
• butter clam
• butter knife
• butter lettuce
• butter up
• butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth
• cacao butter
• cocoa butter
• drawn butter
• head-butter
• like a (hot) knife through butter
• peanut butter
• shea butter

Rhymes for butter

• clutter
• cutter
• flutter
• gutter
• mutter
• nutter
• putter
• rutter
• shutter
• sputter
• stutter
• utter

Kids Definition

butter

1 of 2 noun

but·​ter ˈbət-ər 

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 

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