butcher
BUUT-shuh
Butcher (noun) means a person whose trade is preparing and selling meat. Example: “I bought the lamb chops from the butcher on the corner.”
noun
1
A person whose trade is preparing and selling meat.
"I bought the lamb chops from the butcher on the corner."
"The butcher wrapped the sausages in paper and handed them over the counter."
"Our local butcher will cut a joint to whatever size you need."
2
Someone who kills brutally or without mercy.
"History remembers the dictator as a butcher."
"In the old legend, the cruel general was remembered only as the Butcher."
"Villagers whispered that the warlord was a butcher who showed no mercy to anyone."
verb
1
To slaughter animals and cut up the meat for sale.
"The farmer butchers his own pigs every autumn."
"Every winter the family butchers a few chickens and sells the meat at market."
"They learned how to butcher a lamb at an agricultural college."
2
To ruin or botch something badly.
"The editing team butchered the film, cutting half the best scenes."
"The singer completely butchered the national anthem, forgetting half the words."
"I tried to cut my own hair and totally butchered it."
How to use butcher
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who cuts and sells meat for a living, or (figuratively) to ruin something badly or kill without mercy.
Common pairings
the local butcher
butcher a song
butcher shop
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Word forms
- Plural
- butchers
- Third person singular
- butchers
- Past tense
- butchered
Fill the gap
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I bought the lamb chops from the _____ on the corner.
Etymology
From Old French bouchier, "goat slaughterer," from bouc ("goat"), tracing back to a Germanic word for a male goat — the same root as the English word "buck."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “butcher” mean?
The word “butcher” means a person whose trade is preparing and selling meat. In plain terms, someone who cuts and sells meat for a living, or (figuratively) to ruin something badly or kill without mercy.
How do you pronounce “butcher”?
“Butcher” is pronounced BUUT-shuh (/ˈbʊt͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “butcher” in a sentence?
Here is “butcher” used in a sentence: “I bought the lamb chops from the butcher on the corner.”
What is another word for “butcher”?
Words with a similar meaning to “butcher” include flesher and slayer.
What part of speech is “butcher”?
Depending on how it is used, “butcher” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “butcher” come from?
The word “butcher” comes from Old French. From Old French bouchier, "goat slaughterer," from bouc ("goat"), tracing back to a Germanic word for a male goat — the same root as the English word "buck.".
Is “butcher” a common word?
“Butcher” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “butcher” have?
“Butcher” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person whose trade is preparing and selling meat.
What is the difference between a butcher and someone who "butchers" a task?
A butcher, as a noun, is a person whose trade is preparing and selling meat, a respected skilled profession. Used as a verb outside that trade, "to butcher" something means to ruin or botch it badly, a figurative extension with a negative connotation unrelated to the actual craft.
Why is "butcher" sometimes used to describe a violent person?
"Butcher" can describe someone who kills brutally or without mercy, extending the literal meat-cutting trade into a harsh metaphor for extreme violence. This sense is figurative and carries strong negative judgment, distinct from the neutral professional meaning.
How is "butcher" used as a verb in cooking versus in criticism?
As a verb, "to butcher" literally means to slaughter animals and cut up the meat for sale, a standard part of food preparation. Figuratively, it means to ruin or botch something badly, as in "he butchered the presentation," with no literal violence involved.
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