Definition

1. Noun:

   • A dairy product: A soft, pale yellow solid food made by churning cream or milk, used as a spread, in cooking, or as a fat.
   • A substance resembling butter: Any of various soft spreads or substances with a similar consistency (e.g., peanut butter, cocoa butter).

2. Verb:

   • To spread butter: To apply butter onto a surface, typically bread or toast.
   • To flatter excessively: To use insincere praise to gain favor (often used in the phrasal verb "butter up").

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She spread butter on her warm toast.
  • This recipe calls for two tablespoons of melted butter.

• Verb:

  • Could you butter the bread for the sandwiches?
  • He tried to butter up the manager before asking for a day off.

Advanced Usage

• "To know which side one's bread is buttered": To know where one's advantage lies; to be aware of what is in one's own best interests.

  • He's very loyal to the boss; he knows which side his bread is buttered.

• "Butter wouldn't melt in someone's mouth": Used to describe someone who appears innocent, gentle, or sincere but may not be.

  • She looks so sweet, as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but she can be very cunning.

Variants and Related Words

• Buttery (adj): Resembling, containing, or spread with butter.

  • The pastry was deliciously buttery.

• Buttercream (n): A type of icing or filling made from butter and sugar.

  • The cake was decorated with vanilla buttercream.

• Butter knife (n): A knife with a blunt blade, used for spreading butter.

Synonyms

• Noun: Spread, fat, dairy.
• Verb: Spread, grease (informal), flatter, soft-soap.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Butter up (phrasal verb): To flatter someone excessively, especially to gain something.
  • Stop trying to butter me up and just tell me what you want.

Related Idioms

• Fine words butter no parsnips: Promises or flattering words alone are not enough; action is required.
  • He said he'd help, but fine words butter no parsnips—we need him to actually do something.

Noun

1. a fighter who strikes the opponent with his head
2. an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use

Verb

1. spread butter on
   • butter bread