cream (krēm)
n.

1. 1. The yellowish fatty component of unhomogenized milk that tends to accumulate at the surface.
   2. Any of various substances resembling or containing cream: hand cream.
2. A pale yellow to yellowish white.
3. The choicest part: the cream of the crop.

v., creamed, cream·ing, creams.

v.intr.

1. To form cream.
2. To form foam or froth at the top.

v.tr.

1. To remove the cream from; skim.
2. 1. To take or remove (the best part): creamed off the highest-paying jobs for her cronies.
   2. To take the best part from: creamed the whole department to form his management team.
3. To beat into a creamy consistency.
4. To prepare or cook in or with a cream sauce.
5. To add cream to.
6. Slang.
   1. To defeat overwhelmingly: creamed our rival on their home court.
   2. To damage severely; destroy: My camera got creamed when I dropped it.

[Middle English creme, from Old French craime (from Late Latin crāmum, of Celtic origin) and from Old French cresme (from Latin chrīsma, an anointing , from Greek khrīsma, unguent , from khrīein, to anoint).]

cream cream adj.

---

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

---