butter

UK: ˈbʌtə | US: ˈbʌtər

Definition

  1. n. a pale yellow edible fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking

  2. vt. to spread or coat with butter

Structure
but <from Greek "boutyron">er <noun suffix>
Etymology

The word "butter" traces back to the Greek boutyron (βούτυρον), meaning "cow cheese" (bous "cow" + tyros "cheese"). It entered Old English as butere via Latin butyrum. The term reflects the ancient method of churning cream from cow’s milk, with the morpheme but- preserving the core idea of dairy fat. The -er suffix evolved as a nominal marker in English.

Examples

  1. She spread butter on her toast.

  2. The recipe calls for melted butter.

  3. He buttered the pan before baking.

  4. Freshly churned butter has a rich flavor.

  5. Vegan butter substitutes are made from plant oils.