dairy
Americannoun
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dairies
plural
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an establishment, as a room, building, or buildings, where milk and cream are kept and butter and cheese are made.
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a shop or company that sells milk, butter, etc.
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the business of a dairy farm, concerned with the production and treatment of milk and cream and the manufacture of butter and cheese.
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milk, or products made from or containing milk; dairy products, as butter and cheese.
He avoids red meat, processed foods, and dairy in his diet.
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(in Jewish dietary law) foods, including all milk products, eggs, fish, vegetables, etc., that may be eaten at a meal in which milk is served, in contrast to meat and meat products, which may not.
adjective
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of or relating to a dairy or a dairy farm.
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relating to or for milk, cream, butter, cheese, etc..
dairy products; the dairy case at a supermarket.
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(in Jewish dietary law) of or relating to dairy, in contrast to meat and meat products.
noun
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a company that supplies milk and milk products
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a shop that sells provisions, esp milk and milk products
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a shop that remains open outside normal trading hours
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a room or building where milk and cream are stored or made into butter and cheese
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(modifier) of or relating to the production of milk and milk products
dairy cattle
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( in combination )
a dairymaid
a dairyman
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food containing milk or milk products
she can't eat dairy
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( as modifier )
dairy produce
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Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dairy
1250–1300; Middle English daierie, equivalent to daie, deie dairymaid ( Old English dǣge bread maker; cognate with Old Norse deigja; see lady) + -erie -ery
Explanation
A dairy is a farm that specializes in milk and products made from milk. Cheese, yogurt, cream, and ice cream are all things that might be produced at a dairy. While one kind of dairy is a farm where cows or goats are kept and milked, other dairies focus only on making products from milk that farmers sell to them. These items themselves can also be called dairy products. Dairy comes from the Middle English daie, "dairy," which is rooted in the Old English dæge, "kneader of bread," or "female servant."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Action for Cleaner Water is a joint initiative between Jersey Water, the government and representatives from Jersey's farming and dairy industries to improve water quality.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
Some of what you need may come from the market, especially at one with eggs, cheese, dairy or even pizza dough on offer; the rest can happily come from your pantry or the supermarket.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
On one side: beef ranchers and dairy operators who advocate sustainable and organic food and land practices; they note the seashore was established, in part, to preserve their way of life.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
But trade groups representing makers of snacks, beverages and dairy products also said the plan fell short of addressing concerns that new rules could drive up food prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Howard embraced the idea, underwrote the entire cost, and arranged to have Ridgewood’s orchards, fields, and dairy supply the hospital with food.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
McAfee said the 2006 outbreak opened his eyes to the risk of his product and was part of the reason he developed standards for unpasteurized dairies.
From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026
These little farms sold their milk to dairies that bore wonderful names like Calla Lily, in Glendale, Golden Poppy, in Downey, Santa Monica Dairy, in Venice, and Baldy View dairy, in Whittier.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026
Small dairies say they are already having problems sourcing sheep's milk, which could mean possible shortages of feta going forward.
From BBC ● Nov. 30, 2025
In July, the bird flu spread from dairies in Colorado to poultry farms.
From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2024
These latter were a half-rural people, keeping dairies and cultivating market gardens.
From The Home Life of Poe by Susan Archer Weiss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
