CREAM

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does cream mean? 

• CREAM (noun)
  The noun CREAM has 3 senses:

1. the best people or things in a group

2. the part of milk containing the butterfat

3. toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin

  Familiarity information: CREAM used as a noun is uncommon.

• CREAM (verb)
  The verb CREAM has 5 senses:

1. make creamy by beating

2. beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight

3. put on cream, as on one's face or body

4. remove from the surface

5. add cream to one's coffee, for example

  Familiarity information: CREAM used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CREAM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The best people or things in a group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

cream; pick

Context example:

the cream of England's young men were killed in the Great War

Hypernyms ("cream" is a kind of...):

elite; elite group (a group or class of persons enjoying superior intellectual or social or economic status)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The part of milk containing the butterfat

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("cream" is a kind of...):

dairy product (milk and butter and cheese)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cream"):

clotted cream; Devonshire cream (thick cream made from scalded milk)

double creme; heavy whipping cream (cream with a fat content of 48% or more)

heavy cream (contains more than 36% butterfat)

coffee cream; light cream; single cream (cream that has at least 18% butterfat)

sour cream; soured cream (artificially soured light cream)

light whipping cream; whipping cream (cream that has enough butterfat (30% to 36%) to be whipped)

Derivation:

cream (add cream to one's coffee, for example)

cream (make creamy by beating)

creamy (thick like cream)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

cream; emollient; ointment

Hypernyms ("cream" is a kind of...):

toilet articles; toiletry (artifacts used in making your toilet (washing and taking care of your body))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "cream"):

cold cream; coldcream; face cream; vanishing cream (a cream used cosmetically (mostly by women) for softening and cleaning the skin)

hand cream (moisturizing cream for the hands)

lanolin (an emollient containing wool fat (a fatty substance obtained from the wool of sheep))

nard; spikenard (an aromatic ointment used in antiquity)

sun blocker; sunblock; sunscreen (a cream spread on the skin; contains a chemical (as PABA) to filter out ultraviolet light and so protect from sunburn)

Derivation:

cream (put on cream, as on one's face or body)

• CREAM (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they cream    ... he / she / it creams   
Past simple: creamed   
Past participle: creamed   
-ing form: creaming   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make creamy by beating

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

Cream the butter

Hypernyms (to "cream" is one way to...):

beat; scramble (stir vigorously)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

cream (the part of milk containing the butterfat)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

bat; clobber; cream; drub; lick; thrash

Context example:

We licked the other team on Sunday!

Hypernyms (to "cream" is one way to...):

beat; beat out; crush; shell; trounce; vanquish (come out better in a competition, race, or conflict)

Verb group:

flail; lam; thrash; thresh (give a thrashing to; beat hard)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Put on cream, as on one's face or body

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

She creams her face every night

Hypernyms (to "cream" is one way to...):

apply; put on (apply to a surface)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

cream (toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Remove from the surface

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

cream; cream off; skim; skim off

Context example:

skim cream from the surface of milk

Hypernyms (to "cream" is one way to...):

remove; take; take away; withdraw (remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Also:

cream off (pick the best)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Add cream to one's coffee, for example

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "cream" is one way to...):

modify (make less severe or harsh or extreme)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

cream (the part of milk containing the butterfat)

 Context examples 

A cream that is modified to enhance the release of active and/or inert ingredient(s).

(Augmented Cream Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

A proprietary multiherbal topical cream based on Chinese herbal medicine with potential antineoplastic, antiviral, antibacterial and immunostimulatory activities.

(Arnebia Indigo Jade Pearl Topical Cream, NCI Thesaurus)

A cream dosage form that enhances drug delivery.

(Augmented Cream Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Antibiotic creams can prevent or treat infections.

(Burns, NIH: National Institute of General Medical Sciences)

A colloidal oatmeal-based skin cream with potential moisturizing and skin protecting activity.

(Colloidal Oatmeal Cream, NCI Thesaurus)

Some ointments, creams or rinses may help with the pain.

(Canker Sores, NIH)

F511 cream contains a substance that is used in products to control excess sweating under the arms and on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

(Antiperspirant Cream F511, NCI Dictionary)

Available as cream or lotion, this agent moisturizes the skin and breaks up the scales.

(Ammonium Lactate, NCI Thesaurus)

Without a stabilizer, ice cream—home-made or commercial—can become unpleasantly crunchy with the growth of large ice crystals.

(Freeze-Dried Strawberries and Ice Cream Make for a Very Stable Relationship, Agricultural Research Service)

Treatments for acne include medicines and creams.

(Acne, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)