shea butter

American  

noun

shea butters plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• shea butters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of shea butter

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Flamingo Estate blends anti-inflammatory and skin-restoring manuka honey with hydrating lanolin and shea butter for an ultra-rich yet cloud-like cream that you can use on your hands or anywhere that needs some extra love.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 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

Drawing on her science background, she used raw shea butter and added other ingredients to create her own recipe.

From BBC • Oct. 13, 2024

Applying a thick layer of lip balm with moisturizing ingredients like petrolatum or shea butter before bedtime will also nourish your lips and prevent chapping, Rogers said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 5, 2024

Then, one night while Mama was rubbing shea butter mixed with hot pepper into Papa’s swollen joints, I overheard a conversation between them, and understood.

From "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" by Michaela DePrince