Word
buttermilk
Phoneticsbut·ter·milk, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbətɝˌmɪɫk/
UK/bˈʌtəmˌɪlk/
Definition
n. a thick, slightly sour liquid that is used to make bread and cakes. It is made by adding an acid to milk or by letting milk sit until it sours.
n. a liquid dairy product with a thick, slightly acidic consistency, used as a leavening agent in baking. It is produced either by the addition of lactic acid or by the natural souring of milk.
Examples
“I use buttermilk to make my pancakes extra fluffy.”
“The recipe calls for buttermilk instead of regular milk to give the cake a tangy flavor and a better rise.”
“While traditional buttermilk was the liquid left after churning cream into butter, modern versions are often acidified to replicate the same texture and chemical properties for commercial baking.”
Examples
simple
“I use buttermilk to make my pancakes extra fluffy.”
contextual
“The recipe calls for buttermilk instead of regular milk to give the cake a tangy flavor and a better rise.”
complex
“While traditional buttermilk was the liquid left after churning cream into butter, modern versions are often acidified to replicate the same texture and chemical properties for commercial baking.”
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English butter-melke, equivalent to butter + milk. Cognate with German Low German Bottermelk (“buttermilk”), German Buttermilch (“buttermilk”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/buttermilk