butter

1 of 2

noun

but·​ter ˈbə-tər 

plural butters

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 see also cocoa butter, shea butter

b

: a creamy food often eaten as a spread

especially : one made of ground roasted seeds or nuts

almond/cashew butter

see also peanut butter, nut butter, seed 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

• flattery
• praise
• soft soap
• sweet talk
• acclaim
• 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

Honey-Garlic Chicken Honey, fresh ginger, chili-garlic sauce, garlic, and balsamic vinegar combine with a little butter to make a gorgeous glaze for chicken thighs. — Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Spring and summer gave us poppy colorways like butter yellow and blue and pink and green, but fall is ushering in a slightly moodier palette. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026

Verb

Use it over seared tofu or chicken breasts, or buttered white rice with a drizzle of soy sauce. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Sep. 2026

My biggest challenge as an artist that’s been doing this for close to 20 years now is to try not to be overly redundant with your material, but then try not to stray away from what butters your biscuit. — Melinda Newman, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026

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 cookie
• butter knife
• butter lettuce
• butter up
• butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth
• cacao butter
• cocoa butter
• cookie butter
• drawn butter
• head-butter
• like a (hot) knife through butter
• nut butter
• peanut butter
• seed 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