dairy

noun

ˈder-ē 

plural dairies

often attributive

1

: a room, building, or establishment where milk is kept and butter or cheese is made

2

a

: the department of farming or of a farm that is concerned with the production of milk, butter, and cheese

b

: a farm devoted to such production

3

: an establishment for the sale or distribution chiefly of milk and milk products

4

: milk from a cow or other domestic animal (such as a goat)

also : food (such as ice cream, cheese, or yogurt) made primarily of or from milk

dairy adjective

dairy products

Examples of dairy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wednesday's data showed food costs inched up 0.2% in October, less than September's 0.4% monthly gain, with eggs and dairy products still seeing price increases, the BLS said. —Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

To reduce saturated fat, avoid full-fat dairy and butter when cooking your oatmeal. —Karina Tolentino, Verywell Health, 4 Nov. 2024

Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Jeffrey S. Grob, who grew up on a dairy farm just west of Madison in Cross Plains, will be installed as the 12th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the Vatican announced Monday. —Sophie Carson, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024

Restrictions were put on various foods from July 1942 until July 1954, including meat, dairy, eggs, sugar and candy, to avoid food shortages and keep the population fed on a fair and healthy diet. —Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English deierie, dayerye, borrowed from Anglo-French deyerie, daerie, from Middle English deie, daie "woman in charge of milking and making butter and cheese" (going back to Old English dǣge "female baker, female servant," going back to Germanic *daigjōn—whence also Old Norse deigja "female servant"— derivative of *daiga- dough) + Anglo-French -erie -ery (after botelerie "wine cellar," paneterie "bread shop, pantry")

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dairy

• dairy cattle

Kids Definition

dairy

noun

ˈde(ə)r-ē 

da(ə)r-

plural dairies

1

: a place where milk is kept and butter or cheese is made

2

: a farm devoted to the production of milk

3

: a company that sells milk and milk products

4

: milk from a cow or other domestic animal (as a goat)

also : food (as ice cream, cheese, or yogurt) made primarily of or from milk