milk
Milk (noun) means a white liquid produced by female mammals to feed their young, especially cow's milk used as a food and drink for humans. Example: “She poured milk over her cereal.”
How to use milk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe white drink from cows (or plants), or, as a verb, to draw milk from an animal — or figuratively, to squeeze as much benefit as possible out of something.
Word forms
milked past tense, milks plural, Milks plural, milks singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She poured _____ over her cereal.
Etymology
From Old English meolc, going back to a very old Germanic and Indo-European root meaning "to milk."
Rhymes for milk
See all rhymes for milk →Frequently asked questions
What does “milk” mean?
The word “milk” means a white liquid produced by female mammals to feed their young, especially cow's milk used as a food and drink for humans. In plain terms, the white drink from cows (or plants), or, as a verb, to draw milk from an animal — or figuratively, to squeeze as much benefit as possible out of something.
How do you pronounce “milk”?
“Milk” is pronounced mihlk (/mɪlk/ in IPA).
How do you use “milk” in a sentence?
Here is “milk” used in a sentence: “She poured milk over her cereal.”
What part of speech is “milk”?
Depending on how it is used, “milk” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “milk” come from?
The word “milk” comes from Old English. From Old English meolc, going back to a very old Germanic and Indo-European root meaning "to milk.".
Is “milk” a common word?
“Milk” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “milk” have?
“Milk” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a white liquid produced by female mammals to feed their young, especially cow's milk used as a food and drink for humans.
What is the difference between whole milk and skimmed milk?
The difference is fat content. Whole milk keeps all its natural cream, giving it a richer taste and more calories. Skimmed milk has had nearly all the fat removed, leaving it thinner and lower in calories. Semi-skimmed sits between the two. Nutrients like calcium and protein stay broadly similar across all three.
What are the main types of milk?
The most common is cow's milk, sold as whole, semi-skimmed, and skimmed. Other animal milks include goat, sheep, and buffalo. Plant-based drinks such as almond, soy, oat, and coconut are also labelled 'milk,' though they contain no dairy. Each type differs in taste, nutrition, and how well it suits cooking or diets.
Is plant milk really milk?
Strictly, the word means a liquid produced by female mammals, so almond, soy, and oat drinks are not milk in the biological sense. They are called milk because they look similar and are used the same way — poured on cereal or into coffee. Some regions debate whether these products may legally use the name.
Why is milk important in the diet?
Milk is a convenient source of several nutrients, most notably calcium and protein, which support bones and growth, and this is why it is a staple food for children in particular. It also supplies vitamins and, when fortified, vitamin D. People who avoid dairy can get these nutrients from fortified plant milks or other foods.
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