cream

play

noun, often attributive \ˈkrēm\

Definition of cream

1 : the yellowish part of milk containing from 18 to about 40 percent butterfat
2a : a food prepared with creamb : something having the consistency of cream; especially : a usually emulsified medicinal or cosmetic preparation
3 : the choicest part : best the cream of the crop
4 : creamer 1
5a : a pale yellowb : a cream-colored animal

See cream defined for English-language learners

See cream defined for kids

Examples of cream in a Sentence

Would you like some cream in your coffee?
hot chocolate with whipped cream
a chocolate candy with a vanilla cream center
The doctor prescribed a new cream for the rash.
a cabinet full of special creams and pills

Recent Examples of cream from the Web

Smitten, which makes its ice cream in-house using local, organic ingredients, has a stand at The Point in El Segundo, and will open its second L.A. location in Silver Lake later this year.

— lisa beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Cruffin Cone Is Here to Remind Us the World Is Good and Worth Fighting For," 20 July 2017
For your sweet tooth, there’s new strawberry, banana and s’mores puffle cups, vegan soft serve and waffle ice cream, and old favorites deep-fried Oreos, strawberry shortcake, scones with jam and elephant ears.

— madeline mckenzie, The Seattle Times, "A world of food, drink awaits at weekend’s Bite of Seattle," 19 July 2017
Review: LouVino Douglass Hills is good, but not living up to full potential Read this: Who has the best ice cream in Louisville?

— lindsey mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "Fried chicken at Big Momma’s Soul Food Kitchen among best in Louisville | Review," 19 July 2017
And how about some cold liquid nitrogen beer ice cream?

— denise harris, star-telegram, "Hello, weekend! Ribs, retro music and the real science of beer," 19 July 2017
Combine the cream and bleu cheese in a small sauce pot.

— cooking with caitlin, Cincinnati.com, "Cooking with Caitlin: The spicy, saucy burger you've been waiting for," 19 July 2017
Fold: Gently and thoroughly fold berries and the juices into the cream.

— leah eskin, idahostatesman, "Stuck without a dessert? Strawberry fool to the rescue," 18 July 2017
Dr. Taylor, 34, the guy at work who always brings the birthday cake, usually bakes the cream pies.

— kim severson, New York Times, "A Match Made in Baking and Blue Ribbons," 17 July 2017
In a separate bowl, mix together the cashew cream, powdered sugar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, and salt together.

— Teen Vogue, "How to Make Vegan Peaches and Creme Popsicles," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cream.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cream

Middle English creime, creme, from Anglo-French creme, cresme, from Late Latin cramum, of Celt origin; akin to Welsh cramen scab, crust

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

cream

verb

Definition of cream

intransitive verb
1 : to form cream or a surface layer like the cream on standing milk
2 : to break into or cause something to break into a creamy froth; also : to move like froth
transitive verb
1a : skim 1cb : to remove (something choice) from an aggregate she has creamed off her favorite stories from her earlier books — The Times Literary Supplement (London)
2 : to furnish, prepare, or treat with cream; also : to dress with a cream sauce
3a : to beat into a creamy frothb : to work or blend to the consistency of cream cream butter and sugar togetherc : to cause to form a surface layer of or like cream
4a : to defeat decisively was creamed in the first roundb : wreck creamed the car on the turnpikec : to hit with force : smash the quarterback got creamed by the pass rush

See cream defined for English-language learners

Examples of cream in a Sentence

Cream the butter and sugar, and then add the eggs.
the head-on collision creamed the brand-new car in an instant

Recent Examples of cream from the Web

Because Finkbeiner got creamed by a man riding a bicycle on the American River Parkway.

— marcos bretón, sacbee.com, "He ran every day for the past 37 years. A senseless act of violence just ended his streak," 23 June 2017
Cauliflower Cream (or creamed cauliflower, to be old fashioned) gave Blackened Salmon a comforting counterpoint, and it was cooked exactly as ordered.

— debbi snook, cleveland.com, "Cowell & Hubbard seeks the limelight in Cleveland's Playhouse Square (review, photos)," 23 June 2017
To make: Spread 2 ounces cream cheese thickly on one side of a slice of lightly toasted rustic bread.

— michael austin, idahostatesman, "Try a radish sandwich this summer," 29 May 2017
Bubbles of ginger foam veiled one tinted ruby red with beets and creamed with a bit of goat cheese.

— providence cicero, The Seattle Times, "Iconiq: Refined cuisine in Mount Baker will have you coming back for more," 25 May 2017
Yet each crackling bite yielded an interior of velvety lobster and cream cheese that was luscious and lobster-bisque-briny — all in all, a tasty tension between crunchy and creamy.

— andrew marton, star-telegram.com, "Sai Fine Asian Bistro does its cuisine to a ‘T’," 23 May 2017
In a bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners sugar, and add the flour to make a dough.

— lori edmonds, baltimoresun.com, "Glyndon market serves up inspiration for cookie bars," 23 May 2017
The Man From Another Place (Michael J. Anderson) If this backwards-speaking, smooth-dancing, creamed corn-eating personification of an evil arm isn't still haunting you in your nightmares, then more power to you.

— josh wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Twin Peaks': The Top 20 Characters, Ranked," 16 May 2017
Add bean mixture to creamed coconut oil and Swerve in bowl of stand mixer and beat on medium speed until completely smooth, stopping and scraping down bowl with a rubber spatula several times, 3 to 4 minutes.

— NOLA.com, "Good-for-you chocolate chip recipes for National Chocolate Chip Day," 15 May 2017

First Known Use of cream

1596

CREAM Defined for English Language Learners

cream

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noun

Definition of cream for English Language Learners

: the thick part of milk that rises to the top : the part of milk that contains fat
: a food that is made with cream
: a very thick liquid or soft substance that is rubbed into the skin to make it softer or is used as a medicine for the skin

cream

verb

Definition of cream for English Language Learners

: to stir or mix (ingredients) until they are soft and smooth
: to defeat (a person or team) easily and completely
: to hit (someone) very hard

CREAM Defined for Kids

cream

play

noun \ˈkrēm\

Definition of cream for Students

1 : the thick yellowish part of milk that contains butterfat
2 : a food prepared with cream cream of mushroom soup
3 : a very thick liquid used to soften, protect, or heal the skin hand cream
4 : the best part Only the cream of the crop get into that college.
5 : a pale yellow

cream

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verb

Definition of cream for Students

creamed

;

creaming

1 : to stir (as butter) until smooth and soft
2 : to defeat easily and completely They creamed us in the championship game.

Medical Dictionary

cream

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noun \ˈkrēm\

Medical Definition of cream

1: the yellowish part of milk containing from 18 to about 40 percent butterfat
2: something having the consistency of cream; especially : a usually emulsified medicinal or cosmetic preparation