cream

Etymology

From Middle English creime, creme, from Old French creme, cresme, blend of Late Latin chrisma (“ointment”) (from Ancient Greek χρῖσμα (khrîsma, “unguent”)), and Late Latin crāmum (“skim”), from Gaulish *crama (compare Welsh cramen (“scab, skin”), Breton crammen), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)krama- (compare Middle Irish screm (“surface, skin”), Dutch schram (“abrasion”), Lithuanian kramas (“scurf”)). Doublet of crema and crème. Displaced native Old English rēam (“cream”) (> modern ream). Figurative sense of "most excellent element or part" appears from 1581. Verb meaning "to beat, thrash, wreck" is 1929, U.S. colloquial. The U.S. standard of identity is from 21 CFR 131.3(a).

noun

1. The butterfat/milkfat part of milk which rises to the top; this part when separated from the remainder.
   1. (standards of identity, US) The liquid separated from milk, possibly with certain other milk products added, and with at least eighteen percent of it milkfat.
      You may have noticed that any time that filling is mentioned on Oreo packaging, it's called "creme." This is no typo. Technically, the creamy filling inside an Oreo is not cream at all: The recipe used actually contains no dairy; as such, the FDA prohibits Nabisco from labeling the product as "cream." 2018 February 13, Rebecca Firsker, "What's Really in Oreo Cream Filling? Well, for One Thing, Not Cream", MyRecipes
   2. (standards of identity, UK) The liquid separated from milk containing at least 18 percent milkfat (48% for double cream).
   3. (tea and coffee) A portion of cream, such as the amount found in a creamer.
      I take my coffee with two cream and three sugar.
2. A yellowish white colour; the colour of cream.
   cream:
   Hundreds of examples remain, still following the same general pattern—maroon, green or chocolate brown, for example, from ground to waist level, then a stale Cheddar cheese shade of cream above. 1962 October, Brian Haresnape, “Focus on B.R. passenger stations”, in Modern Railways, page 253
3. (informal) Frosting, custard, creamer, or another substance similar to the oily part of milk or to whipped cream.
   Originally the cream filling in Oreo cookies was made with pork lard. 2004, Joey Green, Joey Green's Incredible Country Store, Rodale, page 267
4. (figurative) The best part of something.
   the cream of the crop
   the cream of a collection of books or pictures
   Welcome, O flower and cream of Knights-errant. 1612, Thomas Shelton (translator), Don Quixote (originally by Miguel de Cervantes)
5. (medicine) A viscous aqueous oil/fat emulsion with a medicament added, used to apply that medicament to the skin. (compare with ointment)
   You look really sunburnt; you should apply some cream.
   In vain she tries her paste and creams, / To smooth her skin or hide its seams. 1756, Oliver Goldsmith, The Double Transformation
6. (vulgar, slang) Semen.
   2001, Darwin Porter, Hollywood’s Silent Closet: The Lusty Saga of America’s First Star F*#%er!! (novel), Blood Moon Productions, Ltd., →ISBN, page 155, He rode me for ten—or was it fifteen?—minutes before one final fuckthrust that filled me completely with his cream.
   He tucked his cock into his pants before rubbing his cream into her breasts in slow, teasing strokes. 2003, Dominique Adair, “Two Days, Three Nights”, in Tied with a Bow, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, page 74
   When he did come, he spurted his cream all over the front of Rosalee’s T-shirt and neck. 2004, Art Wiederhold, Wild Flowers, iUniverse, page 158
7. (obsolete) The chrism or consecrated oil used in anointing ceremonies.
   there shall never harlot have happe, by the helpe of Oure Lord, to kylle a crowned Kynge that with Creyme is anoynted. , Book V

adj

1. Cream-coloured; having a yellowish white colour.

verb

1. To puree, to blend with a liquifying process.
   Cream the vegetables with the olive oil, flour, salt and water mixture.
2. To turn a yellowish white colour; to give something the color of cream.
3. (slang) To obliterate, to defeat decisively.
   We creamed the opposing team!
4. (intransitive, vulgar, slang) To ejaculate (used of either gender).
   Danny Zuko: You are supreme / The chicks’ll cream / For grease lightning. 1971, Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey, “Grease Lightnin’”, in Grease
5. (transitive, vulgar, slang) To ejaculate in (clothing or a bodily orifice).
6. (transitive, cooking) To rub, stir, or beat (butter) into a light creamy consistency.
7. (transitive) To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream.
8. (transitive, figurative) To take off the best or choicest part of.
9. (transitive) To furnish with, or as if with, cream.
   creaming the fragrant cups 1871, Adeline Dutton Train Whitney, Real Folks
10. (intransitive) To gather or form cream.