# cream

/ˈkɹim/ (US) · /kɹˈiːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cream
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. dairy product

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- She poured a little bit of cream into her coffee to make it smoother.
- The recipe calls for heavy double cream to be whisked until it forms stiff peaks for the dessert topping.

### 2. lotion

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- You should put some sun cream on your shoulders so you don't get burned.
- The dermatologist prescribed a medicated steroid cream to alleviate the persistent inflammation on the patient's hands.

### 3. the best part

noun · CEFR B2

the best people or things in a particular group.

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

- The students at this university are the cream of the crop.
- The scholarship program aims to attract the cream of the nation's young scientific talent to its research facilities.

### 4. colour

noun · CEFR B1

a pale, yellowish-white colour.

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

- The walls were painted a soft cream to make the room feel warmer.
- The bride chose a dress in a delicate shade of cream rather than a stark, traditional white.

### 5. to mix ingredients

verb · CEFR B2

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

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

- First, cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl.
- The baker instructed his apprentice to cream the fats thoroughly to ensure the cake had a light, airy texture.

### 6. to defeat easily

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

to beat someone very easily in a game or competition.

For teachers: to defeat an opponent decisively or overwhelmingly.

- Our team got creamed in the final game of the season.
- The underdog team was absolutely creamed by the defending champions, losing by more than forty points.

### 7. colour description

adjective · CEFR B1

having a pale, yellowish-white colour.

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

- She wore a cream silk blouse to the interview.
- The interior designer suggested cream curtains to complement the dark mahogany furniture in the study.

## Examples

- I like to put a little cream in my coffee.
- The doctor told her to apply the medicated cream to the rash twice a day.
- The chef whisked the heavy cream until it formed stiff peaks, creating a rich topping for the seasonal fruit tart.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.