# butter

Pronunciation: US say "BUT-ur" /ˈbʌ.tɚ/; UK say "BUT-uh" /ˈbʌ.tə/

## Noun

1. A soft, fatty food made by churning the cream of milk, usually from cows.
   - Simple: A soft yellow food made from cream, used for cooking and for spreading on bread.
   - _The recipe calls for half a cup of butter._
   - _He melted butter in the pan before adding the eggs._
2. A spread similar in texture to dairy butter but made from other foods or oils, named after the food it is made from.
   - Simple: A soft food like butter but made from other foods, such as nuts or seeds.
   - _She blended roasted cashews into a smooth, rich butter._
   - _The toast was topped with a thick layer of hazelnut butter._
4. A soft substance made from plant oils or fats, used in moisturizers, cosmetics, and similar products.
   - Simple: A soft, oily substance made from plants, used in skin creams and beauty products.
   - _Cocoa butter gives many lotions their rich, smooth feel._
   - _The balm is made with shea butter and a little beeswax._
5. An animal or thing that butts, striking with the head or horns.
   - Simple: An animal or thing that hits something with its head or horns.
   - _Among the herd's goats, the oldest billy was the worst butter._
   - _The farmer told us to stay out of the paddock, since the young bull was a butter that charged anyone headfirst._
6. A person who interferes in others' affairs; a busybody who butts in uninvited.
   - Simple: A person who gets involved in other people's business without being asked.
9. Something that goes smoothly, looks slick, or impresses, such as a deft move, a clean transition, or a fine performance. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Something very smooth or impressive, like a skillful move or a great performance.
   - _The way the DJ slid from one track into the next was butter._
   - _His crossover dribble is straight butter; defenders never see it coming._

## Verb

3. To spread butter onto the surface of something, especially bread.
   - Simple: To put butter on something, such as bread or toast.
   - _He buttered the toast while the coffee brewed._
   - _Always butter the pan so the cake doesn't stick._

## Noun

7. In former chemical usage, any of various soft, readily fusible substances, especially certain metal chlorides such as butter of antimony. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: In old chemistry, a soft substance that melts easily, especially certain metal compounds.

## Verb

8. To increase the stakes at every throw of the dice or every successive game. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To raise the bet again at every roll of the dice or every game.

## Other meanings

- (verb) On skis or a snowboard, to balance or spin on the tips or tails so that only one end touches the snow.
- (noun) A landing so smooth that the aircraft touches down almost imperceptibly.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–4, 7–9** — Ancient Greek βούτῡρον (boútūron, "cow cheese") combined τῡρός (tūrós, "cheese") with βοῦς (boûs, "ox, cow"). Latin borrowed it as būtȳrum, which became Old English butere and then Middle English buter.
**Meanings 5–6** — Formed from butt plus the suffix -er.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/butter (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).