cream

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
: the yellowish part of milk containing from 18 to about 40 percent butterfat
2
a
: a food prepared with cream
b
: something having the consistency of cream
especially : a usually emulsified medicinal or cosmetic preparation
3
: the choicest part : best
There were ten men in my boat, and they were the cream of Company L.Jack London
They were still the cream of the crop, socially surpassing not only their constituents but also their colleagues in Congress.Edmund S. Morgan
4
5
a
: a pale yellow
b
: a cream-colored animal

cream

2 of 2

verb

creamed; creaming; creams

intransitive verb

1
: to form cream or a surface layer like the cream on standing milk
2
: to break into or cause something to break into a creamy froth
also : to move like froth

transitive verb

1
b
: to remove (something choice) from an aggregate
she has creamed off her favorite stories from her earlier booksThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
2
: to furnish, prepare, or treat with cream
also : to dress with a cream sauce
3
a
: to beat into a creamy froth
b
: to work or blend to the consistency of cream
cream butter and sugar together
c
: to cause to form a surface layer of or like cream
4
a
: to defeat decisively
was creamed in the first round
b
: wreck
creamed the car on the turnpike
c
: to hit with force : smash
the quarterback got creamed by the pass rush

Examples of cream in a Sentence

Noun Would you like some cream in your coffee? hot chocolate with whipped cream a chocolate candy with a vanilla cream center The doctor prescribed a new cream for the rash. a cabinet full of special creams and pills Verb Cream the butter and sugar, and then add the eggs. the head-on collision creamed the brand-new car in an instant
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Whip 1 cup whipping cream, then stir in 3 tablespoons or so prepared horseradish. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 16 Mar. 2024 The flavors available are French silk, banana cream, apple, cherry and strawberry rhubarb. Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 Match red and grey, beiges, and creams for a more modern, soft look. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2024 Three bedrooms and two bathrooms are packed into just over 1,900 square feet of living space boasting white, cream and beige interiors complemented by hardwood floors, high ceilings and plentiful windows allowing for an abundance of natural light. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Also available: cookies and cream, and bourbon butter pecan. David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 7 Mar. 2024 After that, the system set me up with three products — a cleanser, spf moisturizer, and night serum/cream. Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Generally, the skin condition is manageable and treatable with topical creams, ointments, or gels. Amanda Gardner, Health, 4 Mar. 2024 But, the name that continued to pop up during conversations with my Korean mates (even my male friends who also dabble in creams, toners, and serums at night to fit into the Korean beauty culture), was L'Occitane — and specifically the Immortelle Overnight Reset Serum. Michelle Tchea, Travel + Leisure, 3 Mar. 2024
Verb
In a standard mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar and brown sugar. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2024 There are a variety of genital and oral herpes treatments that can help prevent outbreaks, alleviate symptoms, and lower the risk of transmission, including antiviral medication like valacyclovir and acyclovir, acyclovir cream for cold sores, lidocaine pain cream, Cover Up! Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2024 Topical acne creams with benzoyl peroxide or trentinoin ingredients are typically the first-line treatment for all types of acne. Casey Gallagher, Verywell Health, 2 Mar. 2024 We were surprised by the Parmesan creamed spinach, though. Toriano Porter, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024 Just combine vodka, liqueur, and cream in a shaker, fill with ice, and shake until chilled. Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2023 Instead of foaming up, this cream lathers into a silky smooth texture that makes shaving a breeze. Lindsey Metrus, Peoplemag, 1 Nov. 2023 Why Soften Butter? Softened butter is easier to cream with sugar, allowing air to be incorporated into the mixture. Molly Allen, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2024 However, there’s no better way to watch a Rapala get creamed by a fish than when it’s fished on top. Mark Modoski, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cream.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English creime, creme, from Anglo-French creme, cresme, from Late Latin cramum, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cramen scab, crust

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cream was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cream

Cite this Entry

“Cream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cream. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cream

1 of 2 noun
1
: the yellowish part of milk containing butterfat
2
a
: a food prepared with cream
cream soup
b
: something having about the same thickness as cream
hand cream
3
: the best part
the cream of the crop
4
: a pale yellow

cream

2 of 2 verb
1
: to skim the cream from
2
: to put cream into
cream tea
3
: to stir or blend until soft and smooth

Medical Definition

cream

noun
1
: the yellowish part of milk containing from 18 to about 40 percent butterfat
2
: something having the consistency of cream
especially : a usually emulsified medicinal or cosmetic preparation
creamy adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cream

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!