margarine
Margarine (noun) means a spread made mainly from vegetable oils, used as a substitute for butter. Example: “She swapped butter for margarine to cut down on saturated fat.”
How to Use Margarine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA butter substitute made from plant oils.
Often shortened informally to "marge" in British English; the shortened form is rarely used in American English.
Word Forms
margarined past tense, margarines plural, margarines singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She swapped butter for _____ to cut down on saturated fat.
Etymology
From French margarine, named after margaric acid, itself from Ancient Greek márgaron ("pearl") because of the substance's pearly sheen — coined by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for margarine
See all rhymes for margarine →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “margarine” mean?
The word “margarine” means a spread made mainly from vegetable oils, used as a substitute for butter. In plain terms, a butter substitute made from plant oils.
How do you pronounce “margarine”?
“Margarine” is pronounced mah-juh-REEN (/ˈmɑɹ.d͡ʒ(ə.)ɹɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “margarine” in a sentence?
Here is “margarine” used in a sentence: “She swapped butter for margarine to cut down on saturated fat.”
What part of speech is “margarine”?
“Margarine” is a noun.
Where does the word “margarine” come from?
The word “margarine” comes from Ancient Greek. From French margarine, named after margaric acid, itself from Ancient Greek márgaron ("pearl") because of the substance's pearly sheen — coined by French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul.