1 N‑COUNT A butcher is a shopkeeper who cuts up and sells meat. Some butchers also kill animals for meat and make foods such as sausages and meat pies.
2 N‑COUNT A butcher or a butcher's is a shop where meat is sold.
3 VERB To butcher an animal means to kill it and cut it up for meat. □ [be V -ed] All his meat is butchered on site before being sold in the farm shop.
4 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone as a butcher when they have killed a lot of people in a very cruel way, and you want to express your horror and disgust. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the Duke of Cumberland, infamous still as the butcher of Culloden.
5 VERB You can say that someone has butchered people when they have killed a lot of people in a very cruel way, and you want to express your horror and disgust. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V n] Guards butchered 1,350 prisoners.
butch|ery /bʊ tʃəri/
1 N‑UNCOUNT You can refer to the cruel killing of a lot of people as butchery when you want to express your horror and disgust at this. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ In her view, war is simply a legalised form of butchery.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Butchery is the work of cutting up meat and preparing it for sale. □ …a carcass hung up for butchery.
but|ler /bʌ tlə r / (butlers ) N‑COUNT A butler is the most important male servant in a wealthy house.
butt /bʌ t/ (butts , butting , butted )
1 N‑COUNT Someone's butt is their bottom. [mainly AM , INFORMAL ] □ Frieda grinned, pinching him on the butt.
2 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The butt or the butt end of a weapon or tool is the thick end of its handle. □ Troops used tear gas and rifle butts to break up the protests.
3 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] The butt of a cigarette or cigar is the small part of it that is left when someone has finished smoking it.
4 N‑COUNT A butt is a large barrel used for collecting or storing liquid.
5 N‑SING If someone or something is the butt of jokes or criticism, people often make fun of them or criticize them. □ [+ of ] He is still the butt of cruel jokes about his humble origins.
6 VERB If a person or animal butts you, they hit you with the top of their head. □ [V n] Lawrence kept on butting me but the referee did not warn him. [Also V n prep]
7 → see also head-butt , water butt
▸ butt in PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone is butting in , you are criticizing the fact that they are joining in a conversation or activity without being asked to. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P ] Sorry, I don't mean to butt in. □ [V P with quote] 'I should think not,' Sarah butted in. [Also + on ]
but|ter ◆◇◇ /bʌ tə r / (butters , buttering , buttered )
1 N‑VAR Butter is a soft yellow substance made from cream. You spread it on bread or use it in cooking. □ …bread and butter. □ Pour the melted butter into a large mixing bowl.
2 VERB If you butter something such as bread or toast, you spread butter on it. □ [V n] She spread pieces of bread on the counter and began buttering them. □ [V -ed] …buttered scones.
3 → see also bread and butter , peanut butter
▸ butter up PHRASAL VERB If someone butters you up , they try to please you because they want you to help or support them. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] The bank has to butter up investors because it is in a fiercely competitive market. □ [V n P ] I tried buttering her up. 'I've always admired people with these sorts of talents.'
bu t|ter bean (butter beans ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Butter beans are the yellowish flat round seeds of a kind of bean plant. They are eaten as a vegetable, and in Britain they are usually sold dried rather than fresh.
butter|cup /bʌ tə r kʌp/ (buttercups ) N‑COUNT A buttercup is a small plant with bright yellow flowers.
butter|fly /bʌ tə r fla I / (butterflies )
1 N‑COUNT A butterfly is an insect with large colourful wings and a thin body.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [oft the N ] Butterfly is a swimming stroke which you do on your front, kicking your legs and bringing your arms over your head together.
3 PHRASE If you have butterflies in your stomach or have butterflies , you are very nervous or excited about something. [INFORMAL ] □ An exam, or even an exciting social event may produce butterflies in the stomach.
butter|milk /bʌ tə r m I lk/ N‑UNCOUNT Buttermilk is the liquid that remains when fat has been removed from cream when butter is being made. You can drink buttermilk or use it in cooking.
butter|scotch /bʌ tə r skɒtʃ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Butterscotch is a hard yellowish-brown sweet made from butter and sugar boiled together.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] A butterscotch flavoured or coloured thing has the flavour or colour of butterscotch. □ …butterscotch sauce.
but|tery /bʌ təri/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Buttery food contains butter or is covered with butter. □ …buttery new potatoes. □ …the buttery taste of the pastry.
but|tock /bʌ tək/ (buttocks ) N‑COUNT Your buttocks are the two rounded fleshy parts of your body that you sit on.
but|ton ◆◇◇ /bʌ t ə n/ (buttons , buttoning , buttoned )
1 N‑COUNT Buttons are small hard objects sewn on to shirts, coats, or other pieces of clothing. You fasten the clothing by pushing the buttons through holes called buttonholes. □ …a coat with brass buttons.