cream
Cream (noun) means the rich, fatty part of milk that rises to the top, or a dairy product made from it. Example: “She poured a splash of cream into her coffee.”
How to use cream
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe fatty top layer of milk, a smooth skin cream, the pale color, or "the best of" a group.
Word forms
creamed past tense, creams plural, creams singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She poured a splash of _____ into her coffee.
Etymology
From Old French cresme, a blend of a Late Latin word for "ointment" and a Gaulish word for "cream" — the cosmetic and dairy senses share this same root.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cream
See all rhymes for cream →Frequently asked questions
What does “cream” mean?
The word “cream” means the rich, fatty part of milk that rises to the top, or a dairy product made from it. In plain terms, the fatty top layer of milk, a smooth skin cream, the pale color, or "the best of" a group.
How do you pronounce “cream”?
“Cream” is pronounced kreem (/kɹiːm/ in IPA).
How do you use “cream” in a sentence?
Here is “cream” used in a sentence: “She poured a splash of cream into her coffee.”
What is another word for “cream”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cream” include crème, ream and creme.
What part of speech is “cream”?
Depending on how it is used, “cream” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “cream” come from?
The word “cream” comes from Late Latin. From Old French cresme, a blend of a Late Latin word for "ointment" and a Gaulish word for "cream" — the cosmetic and dairy senses share this same root.
Is “cream” a common word?
“Cream” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “cream” have?
“Cream” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the rich, fatty part of milk that rises to the top, or a dairy product made from it.
What is the difference between cream and milk?
Cream is the rich, high-fat part of milk that naturally rises to the top when milk is left to stand. Milk is the whole liquid, with a much lower fat content. In short, cream is concentrated milk fat — thicker, richer and heavier — while milk is the lighter fluid it separates from.
What are the types of cream?
Creams are graded mainly by fat content. In the UK these include single cream (thin, for pouring), whipping cream, double cream (thick, and rich enough to whip) and clotted cream (very thick). Related products include sour cream and creme fraiche, both slightly tangy, and half-and-half or light cream in the US.
What is the difference between single and double cream?
The key difference is fat. Double cream is much richer — roughly 48% fat — so it whips easily and holds its shape, making it ideal for desserts. Single cream is thinner, around 18% fat, and is meant for pouring over puddings or stirring into coffee and sauces; it will not whip.
Can cream be whipped?
Only cream with a high enough fat content will whip. Double cream and whipping cream hold air and thicken into soft or stiff peaks, perfect for topping desserts. Single cream is too thin and will not whip no matter how long you beat it — it simply stays liquid.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include cream: