Cream Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms cream American [kreem] / krim /

noun

1. the fatty part of milk, which rises to the surface when the liquid is allowed to stand unless homogenized.

2. a soft solid or thick liquid containing medicaments or other specific ingredients, applied externally for a prophylactic, therapeutic, or cosmetic purpose.

3. Usually creams. a soft-centered confection of fondant or fudge coated with chocolate.

4. a purée or soup containing cream or milk.

   cream of tomato soup.

5. the best part of anything.

   the cream of society.

6. a yellowish white; light tint of yellow or buff.

verb (used without object)

1. to form cream.

2. to froth; foam.

3. Informal. to advance or favor only the wealthiest, most skilled or talented, etc., especially so as to reap the benefits oneself.

   Management is creaming by advancing only the most productive workers.

4. Slang: Vulgar. Also cream one's jeans.

   1. to have an orgasm, especially to ejaculate or experience glandular lubrication of the vagina.

   2. to be overcome, as in rapturous admiration or delight.

verb (used with object)

1. to work (butter and sugar, or the like) to a smooth, creamy mass.

2. to prepare (chicken, oysters, vegetables, etc.) with cream, milk, or a cream sauce.

3. to allow (milk) to form cream.

4. to skim (milk).

5. to separate as cream.

6. to take the cream or best part of.

7. to use a cosmetic cream on.

8. to add cream to (tea, coffee, etc.).

9. Slang.

   1. to beat or damage severely; lambaste.

   2. to defeat decisively.

   3. to accomplish, especially to pass (a test or course), with great ease and success.

      She creamed the math test, getting the highest grade in the class.

adjective

1. of the color cream; cream-colored.

idioms

1. cream of the crop, the best or choicest.

   a college that accepts only students who are the cream of the crop.

cream British / kriːm /

noun

1. 1. the fatty part of milk, which rises to the top if the milk is allowed to stand

   2. ( as modifier )

      cream buns

2. anything resembling cream in consistency

   shoe cream

   beauty cream

3. the best one or most essential part of something; pick

   the cream of the bunch

   the cream of the joke

4. a soup containing cream or milk

   cream of chicken soup

5. any of various dishes, cakes, biscuits, etc, resembling or containing cream

6. a confection made of fondant or soft fudge, often covered in chocolate

7. a full-bodied sweet sherry

8. 1. a yellowish-white colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      cream wallpaper

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. (tr) to skim or otherwise separate the cream from (milk)

2. (tr) to beat (foodstuffs, esp butter and sugar) to a light creamy consistency

3. (intr) to form cream

4. (tr) to add or apply cream or any creamlike substance to

   to cream one's face

   to cream coffee

5. to take away the best part of

6. (tr) to prepare or cook (vegetables, chicken, etc) with cream or milk

7. to allow (milk) to form a layer of cream on its surface or (of milk) to form such a layer

8. slang (tr) to beat thoroughly

9. slang (intr) (of a man) to ejaculate during orgasm

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• creamlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of cream

1300–50; Middle English creme < Anglo-French, Old French cresme < Late Latin chrīsma chrism

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ice cream, water fights, kind people who aren’t weird and don’t smell unusual.

From Los Angeles Times

Most of the movie takes place in that witching-hour window, an airlessly silent time where an at-home podcaster doesn’t worry about being interrupted by a leaf blower, an ice cream truck or a dog.

From Los Angeles Times

If you’re not in the mood for a hulking sirloin — and if just creamed spinach and a frosted martini feel like insufficient ballast — skip the burger.

From Salon

The best ice cream place, Sundae School, is right across the street.

From Literature

A glint of salve or some kind of cream was on her cheeks and neck.

From Literature

Related Words

• jelly
• ointment
• paste

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.