shea butter

American  

noun

1. a solid, greenish, yellowish, or whitish fat derived from the seeds of the shea tree, used for food and in the manufacture of soaps and candles.

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Etymology

Origin of shea butter

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Harvested fruit from shea nut trees have to be crushed, roasted and boiled to extract their oil to produce the shea butter used in cosmetics.

From BBC • Aug. 27, 2025

Shinichirō Watanabe's vision marries futuristic visuals with realism, with the series' jazz score treated as something to be felt and then absorbed, like dry skin lathered in shea butter.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2025

The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends lip balms that contain ceramides, hemp seed oil, dimethicone, mineral oil and shea butter.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 5, 2024

Video and photography by international artists filled the industrial space, together presenting a portrait of the region, considering the production of shea butter, Dagomba rituals and Tamale’s middle class, among other subjects.

From New York Times • Feb. 5, 2024

I’d put extra shea butter hair cream on it so my curls wouldn’t frizz.

From "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" by Janae Marks