buttermilk
buttermilk Lexical Profile
buttermilk Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A commercially produced cultured dairy product made by adding lactic acid bacteria to pasteurized milk, widely used in modern baking to activate leavening agents and add a tangy flavor.
"The chef added a cup of buttermilk to the batter to ensure the biscuits would turn out light and flaky."
The slightly sour liquid that remains after butter has been churned from cream, traditionally consumed as a beverage or used in baking.
"In the old days, farmers would drink a refreshing glass of cold buttermilk straight from the churn."
Word Nuance & Usage
Modern commercially available buttermilk is typically a cultured dairy product made by adding bacteria to milk, whereas traditional buttermilk is the liquid leftover from churning butter.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English, a compound of 'butter' and 'milk', referring to the liquid left over after churning butter from cream.