ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cream

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈkɹim// UK //kɹˈiːm// cream
  1. 1 dairy product (n.)
    A2 Elementary Cooking

    the thick, white or pale yellow fatty part of milk that rises to the top.

    the fatty part of milk which separates from the liquid; often used as a culinary ingredient or topping.

    Example

    She poured a little bit of cream into her coffee to make it smoother.

    Example

    The recipe calls for heavy double cream to be whisked until it forms stiff peaks for the dessert topping.
    • milkfat
  2. 2 lotion (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Medicine

    a thick liquid or soft substance that you rub into your skin to make it soft or to treat a problem.

    a viscous emulsion of oil and water intended for topical application to the skin for cosmetic or medicinal purposes.

    Example

    You should put some sun cream on your shoulders so you don't get burned.

    Example

    The dermatologist prescribed a medicated steroid cream to alleviate the persistent inflammation on the patient's hands.
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  1. 3 the best part (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the best people or things in a particular group.

    the most excellent or desirable part of a group or entity; often used in the idiom 'the cream of the crop'.

    Example

    The students at this university are the cream of the crop.

    Example

    The scholarship program aims to attract the cream of the nation's young scientific talent to its research facilities.
  2. 4 colour (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a pale, yellowish-white colour.

    a yellowish-white hue resembling the colour of dairy cream.

    Example

    The walls were painted a soft cream to make the room feel warmer.

    Example

    The bride chose a dress in a delicate shade of cream rather than a stark, traditional white.
  3. 5 to mix ingredients (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    to mix butter and sugar together until they are soft and smooth.

    to work one or more foods until they are soft and creamy, typically by beating butter and sugar together.

    Example

    First, cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl.

    Example

    The baker instructed his apprentice to cream the fats thoroughly to ensure the cake had a light, airy texture.
  4. 6 to defeat easily (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal American English Sport

    to beat someone very easily in a game or competition.

    to defeat an opponent decisively or overwhelmingly.

    Example

    Our team got creamed in the final game of the season.

    Example

    The underdog team was absolutely creamed by the defending champions, losing by more than forty points.
  5. 7 colour description (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    having a pale, yellowish-white colour.

    possessing a yellowish-white hue; non-gradable when referring to a specific colour standard.

    Example

    She wore a cream silk blouse to the interview.

    Example

    The interior designer suggested cream curtains to complement the dark mahogany furniture in the study.
    • off white
Origin

From Middle English creime, creme, from Old French creme, cresme, blend of Late Latin chrisma (“ointment”) (from Ancient Greek χρῖσμα (khrîsma, “unguent”)), and Late Latin crāmum (“cream”), from Gaulish crama (compare Welsh cramen (“scab, skin”), Breton crammen), from Proto-Indo-European (s)krama- (compare Middle Irish screm (“surface, skin”), Dutch schram (“abrasion”), Lithuanian kramas (“scurf”)). Doublet of crema and crème. Displaced native Old English rēam (“cream”) (> modern ream). Figurative sense of "most excellent element or part" appears from 1581. Verb meaning "to beat, thrash, wreck" is 1929, U.S. colloquial. The U.S. standard of identity is from 21 CFR 131.3(a).

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