dairy

noun

ˈder-ē 

plural dairies

often attributive

1

: a room, building, or establishment where milk is kept and butter or cheese is made

2

a

: the department of farming or of a farm that is concerned with the production of milk, butter, and cheese

b

: a farm devoted to such production

3

: an establishment for the sale or distribution chiefly of milk and milk products

4

: milk from a cow or other domestic animal (such as a goat)

also : food (such as ice cream, cheese, or yogurt) made primarily of or from milk

dairy adjective

dairy products

Examples of dairy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dairy worker had caught the virus, apparently, from cattle. —David Cox, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024

Both North Carolina and South Dakota have detected the virus in dairy herds, bringing the total number of states affected to eight. —Will Stone, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024

Upon learning from the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week that cows in a handful of dairy farms had tested positive for bird flu, the CDC contacted state health departments, asking them to work with farms to identify any person who may be showing symptoms. —Sara G. Miller, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Most recently, a dairy worker in Texas was presumed to be infected by sick cattle, according to the CDC. —Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2024

Among dairy cows, milk from animals suspected or confirmed to have the virus is being removed from human food supplies. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

Where were they sold? Cheeses, dairy products recalled after listeria contamination In early February, Rizo-López Foods recalled all its cheeses and dairy products made in its Modesto facility due to potential contamination to listeria. —Angela Rodriguez, Sacramento Bee, 2 Apr. 2024

Other dairy and formula-producing countries also promote their products abroad and, at the World Trade Organization, countries such as Australia and New Zealand sometimes join the U.S. in objecting to formula regulations. —Heather Vogell, ProPublica, 2 Apr. 2024

Milk chocolate, which is high in sugar and dairy, is more likely to hurt than help. —USA TODAY, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deierie, dayerye, borrowed from Anglo-French deyerie, daerie, from Middle English deie, daie "woman in charge of milking and making butter and cheese" (going back to Old English dǣge "female baker, female servant," going back to Germanic *daigjōn—whence also Old Norse deigja "female servant"— derivative of *daiga- dough) + Anglo-French -erie -ery (after botelerie "wine cellar," paneterie "bread shop, pantry")

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dairy

• dairy cattle

Kids Definition

dairy

noun

ˈde(ə)r-ē 

da(ə)r-

plural dairies

1

: a place where milk is kept and butter or cheese is made

2

: a farm devoted to the production of milk

3

: a company that sells milk and milk products

4

: milk from a cow or other domestic animal (as a goat)

also : food (as ice cream, cheese, or yogurt) made primarily of or from milk