buttery

¹ American  

[buht-uh-ree] / ˈbʌt ə ri /

adjective

1. like, containing, or spread with butter.

2. resembling butter, as in smoothness or softness of texture.

   a vest of buttery leather.

3. grossly flattering; smarmy.

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buttery ² American  

[buht-uh-ree, buh-tree] / ˈbʌt ə ri, ˈbʌ tri /

noun

plural

butteries

1. Chiefly New England. a room or rooms in which the provisions, wines, and liquors of a household are kept; pantry; larder.

2. a room in colleges, especially at Oxford and Cambridge universities, from which articles of food and drink are sold or dispensed to the students.

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buttery ¹ British  

/ ˈbʌtərɪ /

adjective

1. containing, like, or coated with butter

2. informal grossly or insincerely flattering; obsequious

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buttery ² British  

/ ˈbʌtərɪ /

noun

1. a room for storing foods or wines

2. (in some universities) a room in which food is supplied or sold to students

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Other Word Forms

• butteriness noun

Etymology

Origin of buttery¹

First recorded in 1350–1400;  Middle English buttry, buttrie; butter, -y ¹

Origin of buttery²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English boterie, butry, from Middle French, Old French, from Late Latin botāria (derivative of bota, butta “cask”) + -erie; butt ⁴, -ery

Example Sentences

Lactococcus lactis was associated with buttery aromas, while Limosilactobacillus fermentum produced sugar alcohols that can add a mild sweetness.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

“For sidewalk surfing — it’s almost like dance for me. Altadena, where I lived, east of Lake, had the most buttery streets for skateboarding. I miss that. I miss the trees and the history there.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2026

Songs like Into The Blue and Breathe Again sit neatly next to Norah Jones or Alicia Keys, full of jazzy guitar lines and buttery smooth vocals.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

And its earthy, buttery, creamy, health-friendly products have even become cool.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

What I do remember is Charlie’s hand and how strong it was, and how he rubbed my palm with his thumb and how he smelled of buttery popcorn.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King