butter

butter

I

but‧ter¹ S2 /ˈbʌtə $ -ər/ noun [uncountable]
1. a solid yellow food made from milk or cream that you spread on bread or use in cooking ⇨ bread-and-butter
2. butter wouldn’t melt in sb’s mouth used to say that someone seems to be very kind and sincere but is not really
—buttery adjective
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ adjectives
   ▪ salted/unsalted (=with or without salt in it) Unsalted butter is better for baking. | Most butter is slightly salted.
   ▪ melted butter (=heated until it is liquid) Brush the pastry with a little melted butter.
■ phrases
   ▪ a pat of butter (=a small flat piece) Breakfast was a small roll and a pat of butter.
   ▪ a knob of butter (=a small round piece) Add a knob of butter to the meat juices in the pan.
   ▪ a lump of butter He served himself a big lump of butter.
■ verbs
   ▪ spread butter on something Lee was spreading butter on his toast.
   ▪ spread something with butter Spread the warm crumpets with butter.
   ▪ melt butter Melt the butter and mix it with the other ingredients.
   ▪ soften butter First soften the butter in a warm place.

II

butter² verb [transitive]
to spread butter on something:
    buttered toast
     
butter somebody ↔ up phrasal verb
  informal to say nice things to someone so that they will do what you want:
    Don’t think you can butter me up that easily.