sour cream

American  

noun

1. cream soured by the lactic acid produced by a ferment.

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sour cream British  

noun

1. Also called: soured cream. cream soured by lactic acid bacteria, used in making salads, dips, etc

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Etymology

Origin of sour cream

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sour cream

“It’s hot, it’s cold, it’s crispy, it’s also supple. There’s spice, but then it has sour cream that calms it. It’s a very complete experience.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

When I craved manti, small beef dumplings usually doused in sour cream, I was directed by a local to Bitez Mantici in the Bitez neighborhood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

She set off after midnight from her village in central Ukraine to reach Kyiv before dawn and sell milk, sour cream, butter and cottage cheese from her own cows.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

Here, they get cooked with butter, brown sugar, orange zest and salt until glossy and jammy, then folded into a simple sour cream cake scented generously with cardamom.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026

Mom returns with bags full of potatoes and onions, applesauce and sour cream, flour and jam.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

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