butter

 
Pronunciation: /ˈbʌtə/

noun

[mass noun]
  • a pale yellow edible fatty substance made by churning cream and used as a spread or in cooking.

verb

[with object]
  • spread (something) with butter: Lily buttered a slice of toast (as adjective buttered) lavishly buttered bread

Phrases

look as if butter wouldn't melt in one's mouth

informal appear gentle or innocent while typically being the opposite.

Phrasal Verbs

butter someone up

informal flatter or otherwise ingratiate oneself with someone.

Derivatives

butterless

adjective

Origin:

Old English butere, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch boter and German Butter, based on Latin butyrum, from Greek bouturon