American English
/ˈbə.ɾɚ.ɪŋ/
3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Related entry: butter
A soft, yellow food made from milk, used for spreading on bread and for cooking.
Practice out loudA soft, yellow food made from milk, used for spreading on bread and for cooking.
I put some butter on my toast.
Melt the butter in the pan.
melt butter · spread butter · a pat of butter · butter on toast
some + butter + on + [food]
[amount] + of + butter
To put butter on food or in a pan before cooking.
Butter the bread while it is warm.
She buttered the pan before adding the eggs.
butter bread · butter toast · butter a pan
butter + [food]
[someone] + can + butter + [food]
To praise someone too much because you want help or a favor.
He buttered his boss up before asking for a raise.
The main work or source of income that supports someone.
Teaching is her bread and butter.
In buttering, the final t is doubled. The past forms are buttered.