# cream

Pronunciation: say "KREEM" /kɹiːm/

## Noun

1. The thick, fat-rich part of milk that rises to the top or is separated off for use in food and drinks; also, a single serving of it, as for coffee or tea.
   - Simple: The thick, fatty part of milk, used in food and drinks, or one small serving of it.
   - _She poured a little cream into her coffee and stirred until it turned a light tan._
   - _Serve the warm pie with a spoonful of whipped cream._
2. A soft substance like frosting, custard, or creamer that resembles the oily part of milk or whipped cream. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A soft, sweet topping or filling like frosting, custard, or whipped milk.
   - _He squirted cream into the center of each pastry._
   - _Her fruit tart starts with a layer of vanilla pastry cream under the strawberries._
3. A thick, smooth emulsion of oil and water rubbed into the skin, either to deliver a medicine or for moisturizing, cosmetic, or grooming use.
   - Simple: A soft, smooth mixture you rub on your skin, to treat a problem or to keep skin soft.
   - _The pharmacist recommended a hydrocortisone cream for the inflamed skin._
   - _He applied an antifungal cream to the affected area each night._
5. A yellowish-white color resembling that of dairy cream.
   - Simple: A pale yellowish-white color, the shade of fresh dairy cream.
   - _The invitation was printed on heavy card in a warm cream._
   - _They chose cream for the nursery walls, softer than stark white._
7. The finest or most excellent part of something.
   - Simple: The best or finest part of a group.
   - _The academy admits only the cream of each year's applicants._
   - _This festival showcases the cream of independent cinema._
8. A smooth, thick soup or similar dish made with cream or milk, such as cream of mushroom or cream of tomato.
   - Simple: A smooth, thick soup made with cream or milk, such as cream of mushroom.
   - _The diner serves a different cream of vegetable every afternoon._
   - _He ladled a steaming bowl of cream of celery for each guest._
12. Semen, the fluid that is ejaculated. *(slang)*
   - Simple: A rude slang word for semen.

## Adjective

4. Of a pale yellowish-white color, resembling dairy cream.
   - Simple: Having a pale yellowish-white color, like dairy cream.
   - _He chose a cream linen suit for the summer wedding._
   - _The old farmhouse had cream shutters and a bright red front door._

## Verb

6. To beat or stir butter or another solid fat, often with sugar, into a soft, light, creamy texture.
   - Simple: To beat butter or another fat, often with sugar, until soft and fluffy.
   - _First cream the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy._
   - _The recipe says to cream the shortening thoroughly before folding in the flour._
9. To defeat someone decisively; to crush an opponent completely. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To beat someone very badly in a game or fight.
   - _The champions creamed every challenger they faced this season._
   - _The league leaders will cream us on Saturday if our defense doesn't show up._
10. To blend ingredients into a smooth, liquid mixture by pureeing.
   - Simple: To mix food until it is smooth and soft.
   - _Cream the cooked vegetables before stirring them back into the broth._
   - _The chef creamed the roasted squash into a velvety base for the sauce._
11. To remove the best or choicest portion of something, leaving the rest behind.
   - Simple: To take away the best part of something for yourself.
   - _Critics say the new magnet school will cream off the strongest students from nearby schools._
   - _The new owners creamed off the most profitable stores and closed the rest within a year._
13. To furnish or top something with cream, or with something resembling cream.
   - Simple: To add cream to a food or drink, or to cover it as if with cream.
   - _For the holiday dinner, she creamed the pearl onions in a rich white sauce._
   - _Grandma likes to cream the fresh garden peas with butter and a splash of milk._
14. (vulgar slang) To ejaculate, sometimes into one's clothing. *(slang)*
   - Simple: (rude slang) To release sexual fluid at climax.
   - _He tries hard not to cream too soon when he is excited._
   - _The first trailer had longtime fans ready to cream their jeans, months before the release date was announced._
15. Of milk, to gather or form a layer of cream on the surface.
   - Simple: To form a layer of cream on top, as milk does when it sits.
   - _Raw milk left to stand will cream within a few hours._
   - _Left overnight in the cool cellar, the fresh milk creamed, and a thick yellow layer rose to the top._

## Noun

16. The consecrated oil, or chrism, used in religious anointing ceremonies. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Holy oil used to bless people in religious ceremonies.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To skim off the layer of cream that rises to the top of milk.
- (verb) To give something a yellowish-white color, like that of cream.

## Origin

Middle English creime came from Old French creme, which blended two Late Latin words. One was chrisma, meaning "ointment," which came from Ancient Greek khrîsma ("unguent"). The other was crāmum, meaning "cream." Crāmum probably came from Gaulish *crama and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots connected with skin or surface. The figurative meaning "the most excellent part" is recorded from 1581. The U.S. slang verb meaning "to beat or wreck" dates from 1929.

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