die Butter, -
butter
Ein weiches gelbes Fett aus Milch. Man streicht es oft auf Brot oder nutzt es zum Kochen und Backen.
Definition & meaning
"Butter" is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is primarily used as a spread on bread, as a cooking fat, or as a key ingredient in baking and frying.
In colloquial German, the word can also appear in several common idioms:
- "Alles in Butter": This expression means that everything is in order or fine.
- "Die Butter vom Brot nehmen": This refers to depriving someone of their livelihood or their hard-earned success.
Grammar & Word origin
"Die Butter" is a feminine noun. As an uncountable noun, it usually does not have a plural form, though "Buttersorten" (types of butter) is used when referring to varieties.
The word stems from the Ancient Greek "boutyron," which is a combination of "bous" (cow) and "tyros" (cheese), literally meaning "cow cheese." It entered Old High German as "butera."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- Streichfett (general term for spreadable fats)
- Butterfett (clarified butter/milk fat)
- Molkereierzeugnis (dairy product)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Die Butter schmilzt in der Pfanne.noun
The butter is melting in the pan.
Auf dem Brot liegt Butter.noun
There is butter on the bread.
Butter schmilzt schnell in der Sonne.noun
Butter melts quickly in the sun.
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