cream

play

noun, often attributive \ ˈkrēm \

Definition of cream

1 :the yellowish part of milk containing from 18 to about 40 percent butterfat

2 a :a food prepared with cream

b :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

5 a :a pale yellow

b :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

Wyrzkowski said the loss of profits from the cream forced him to sell property that was going to be used for a spiritual center and curtailed other charitable works.

— pat eaton-robb, The Seattle Times, "Former monk sues cosmetics giant over anti-aging formula," 30 Aug. 2017
Using an ice cream scoop, place a scoop of the meat mixture on each.

— cheryl stritzel mccarthy, chicagotribune.com, "Busy mom shares easy make-ahead breakfast ideas," 29 Aug. 2017
The jingle of an ice cream truck streamed through the breeze.

— alden woods, azcentral, "$200 from home: Renters in the housing crisis are often stuck between help and affordability," 17 Aug. 2017
KC’s Rob Riggle voices an ice cream cone, and Patrick Stewart is Poop.

— sharon hoffmann, kansascity, "‘Wind River’ best of big new movies; ‘Hitman’s Bodyguard,’ ‘Logan Lucky,’ not so much," 17 Aug. 2017
One way Hughes did this was to infuse liquors using an iSi cream whipper.

— jacqueline detwiler, Popular Mechanics, "Better Booze Through Science," 14 Aug. 2017
The tricycles are described as tan or cream in color, and each had a basket.

— andy nguyen, Burbank Leader, "Trio caught on camera stealing from Burbank nonprofit," 8 Aug. 2017
Ice cream is served from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is limited to the first 300 guests.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 8 Aug. 2017
The offer is good for any Baskin-Robbins ice cream flavor on July 31 only.

— AL.com, "Local vodka, in-demand jobs, Google's shopper tracking program top AL.com business news," 31 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

cream Synonyms

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

1 a :skim 1c

b :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

3 a :to beat into a creamy froth

b :to work or blend to the consistency of cream

cream butter and sugar together

c :to cause to form a surface layer of or like cream

4 a :to defeat decisively

was creamed in the first round

b :wreck

creamed the car on the turnpike

c :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

Ocean Prime 8555 N. River Road, (317) 569-0975, ocean-prime.com Have the white truffle caviar deviled egg before the filet mignon with creamed whipped potatoes and green beans.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "50 steak dinner deals you can only get during Devour Indy," 22 Aug. 2017
In the mixer bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, for 2 to 3 minutes.

— ellise pierce, star-telegram, "These French-inspired desserts are deliciously simple," 14 Aug. 2017
So how can an enterprising investor seek new opportunities without being creamed by Amazon?

— barb darrow, Fortune, "Don’t Want to be Crushed By Amazon? Here Are Some Suggestions," 2 Aug. 2017
Make the maple frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the cream cheese and butter on low speed until smooth.

— ina garten, House Beautiful, "Ina Garten's Recipe for Pumpkin Cupcakes With Maple Frosting," 2 Aug. 2017
Mashed potatoes, creamed onions, cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese—all waited, each one sending its own perfume wafting through the house.

— rick bragg, Southern Living, "Never-ending Grace," 11 July 2017
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

— karen elizabeth watts, kansascity, "Cold-brew coffee is a hot hot hot trend, and you can make it yourself," 3 July 2017
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

First Known Use of cream

1596

cream Synonyms

Synonyms

annihilate, destroy, decimate, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck

Antonyms

build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words

beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against); blast, blow up, break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate, disfigure, disintegrate, dissolve, dynamite, harm, impair, injure, mangle, mar, mutilate, spoil, vitiate; erode, scour, sweep (away), wash out, wear (away); dilapidate, disassemble, dismantle, gut, take down, unbuild, undo, unmake; blot out, efface, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, remove, root (out), snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out; despoil, havoc, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, trample, trash, vandalize; assassinate, butcher, cut down, dispatch, execute, fell, kill, kill off, massacre, mow (down), murder, slaughter, slay, take out, zap

Near Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp; create, invent; assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape; bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize; conserve, preserve, protect, save; rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore

CREAM Defined for English Language Learners

cream

play

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

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

play

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

—

creamy

play \ˈkrē-mē\ adjective

Learn More about cream

See words that rhyme with cream Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cream Spanish Central: Translation of cream Nglish: Translation of cream for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cream for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cream

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cream

Definition of cream

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cream Synonyms

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CREAM Defined for English Language Learners

cream

Definition of cream for English Language Learners

cream

Definition of cream for English Language Learners

CREAM Defined for Kids

cream

Definition of cream for Students

cream

Definition of cream for Students

Medical Dictionary

cream

medical Definition of cream

creamy

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