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butter noun
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but·ter | \ ˈbə-tər \

Definition of butter (Entry 1 of

2)
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

butter verb
buttered; buttering; butters

Definition of butter (Entry 2 of

2)
transitive verb
: to spread with or as if with butter

Other Words from butter

Synonyms

Example Sentences

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Other Words from butter

Noun
butterless \ ˈbə-tər-ləs \ adjective

Synonyms for butter

Synonyms: Noun
adulation, blarney, flannel [British],
flattery, incense, overpraise, soft soap,
sweet talk, taffy

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Examples of butter in a
Sentence
Noun
// Would you like some butter for your
potato?
// Sauté the onions in melted butter.

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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

// The bread-and-butter benefits that
followed, after many employees felt
under siege by their president,
underscores Trump's unorthodox
relationship with the permanent
workforce that keeps the sprawling
federal presence operating around the
clock.
— Lisa Rein, Anchorage Daily News, "A
government shutdown and the biggest raise
in a decade: How Trump gave federal
workers whiplash in 2019," 29 Dec. 2019

// The second features shredded turkey

mixed with barbecue sauce, crunchy
slaw and sweet bread-and-butter
pickles, all spooned into a soft burger
bun.
— The New York Times News Service
Syndicate, The Denver Post, "Turkey
sandwiches, as you please," 3 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically

from various online news sources to reflect current
usage of the word 'butter.' Views expressed in the
examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-
Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of butter

Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning
defined at sense 1

Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined
above

History and Etymology for

butter
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

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butter

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Time Traveler for butter

The first known use of butter
was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century

From the Editors at Merriam-

Webster
13 Breakfast Foods
That Are Also
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Your Favorite
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Dictionary Entries near butter

butte
Butte
butt end
butter
butter-and-egg man
butter-and-eggs
butterball

See More Nearby Entries

Phrases Related to butter

butter knife
butter wouldn't melt in someone's
mouth
know which side one's bread is
buttered on
like a (hot) knife through butter
peanut butter

Statistics for butter

Last Updated
15 Jan 2020

Look-up Popularity
Bottom 50% of words

Cite this Entry

“Butter.” The Merriam-Webster.com
Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc.,
https://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/butter.
Accessed 26 January 2020.

MLA

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More Definitions
for butter

butter noun

English Language Learners

Definition of butter (Entry 1 of
2)
: a solid yellow substance made from
milk or cream that is spread on food or
used in cooking

: a food made from cooked fruit or

roasted nuts that have been ground up

butter verb
English Language Learners
Definition of butter (Entry 2 of
2)
: to spread or put butter on (something)

See the full definition for butter in the

English Language Learners Dictionary

butter noun
but·ter | \ ˈbə-tər \

Kids Definition of butter (Entry

1 of 2)
1 : a solid yellowish fatty food
obtained from cream or milk by
churning

2 : a food that is made of cooked and

crushed nuts or fruit and that can
be spread
// apple butter
// peanut butter

butter verb
buttered; buttering

Kids Definition of butter (Entry

2 of 2)
: to spread with or as if with butter

butter noun
but·ter | \ ˈbət-ər \

Medical Definition of butter

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

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More from Merriam-Webster

on butter
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms
for butter
Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme
with butter
Spanish Central: Translation of butter
Nglish: Translation of butter for Spanish
Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of butter
for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article
about butter

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