noun

milking

MIHL-kihng

noun

The action of drawing milk from an animal, typically a cow or goat.

"Milking starts at five every morning on the farm."

"The dairy switched to automated milking to save labour costs."

verb

(figurative, informal) Exploiting a situation, person, or resource for as much benefit as possible.

"The actor was accused of milking the applause for an extra bow."

"He kept milking the injury for sympathy long after he'd recovered."

How to Use Milking

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the literal act of getting milk from an animal, or, informally, squeezing every last bit of advantage out of something.

Common pairings

milking a cow milking machine milking it for sympathy

milkings plural

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_____ starts at five every morning on the farm.

From Middle English milkinge, the -ing form of milk, itself from Old English meolc.