buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbə-tər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk

Examples of buttermilk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Add about 3 tablespoons of the buttermilk brine to the flour mixture and rub together with your fingers to create small clumps. —Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024

The result is a delicious crossover between a traditional, flaky buttermilk biscuit and a light, yeasty Parker House Roll. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2024

Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add buttermilk, sour cream, almond extract, vanilla, and egg yolks. —Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 9 Dec. 2024

And feel free to swap in heavy cream, sour cream or crème fraîche in place of the buttermilk. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after the butterfat has been churned from milk or cream

2

: milk from which all or part of the cream has been removed and which has been soured by adding certain bacteria

Medical Definition

buttermilk

noun

but·​ter·​milk ˈbət-ər-ˌmilk 

1

: the liquid left after butter has been churned from milk or cream

2

: cultured milk made by the addition of suitable bacteria to sweet milk