noun
cream
kreem
noun
1
The rich, fatty part of milk that rises to the top, or a dairy product made from it.
"She poured a splash of cream into her coffee."
"Whip the cream until soft peaks form."
2
A thick, smooth cosmetic or medicinal substance applied to the skin.
"He rubbed sunscreen cream on his shoulders before heading to the beach."
3
The best part of a group; the finest examples.
"These finalists are the cream of this year's graduating class."
adj
1
Having a pale yellowish-white color.
"She wore a cream dress to the summer wedding."
verb
1
To beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
"Cream the butter and sugar before adding the eggs."
How to Use Cream
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe fatty top layer of milk, a smooth skin cream, the pale color, or "the best of" a group.
Common pairings
whipped cream
face cream
cream of the crop
cream-colored
Word Forms
creamed past tense, creams plural, creams singular
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Etymology
From Old French cresme, a blend of a Late Latin word for "ointment" and a Gaulish word for "cream" — the cosmetic and dairy senses share this same root.