milk
A1Neutral (used across all registers from casual to formal)
Definition
Meaning
A white liquid produced by female mammals to feed their young, typically from cows, goats, or sheep, consumed as a food or drink by humans.
Any whitish liquid resembling milk (e.g., coconut milk). Figuratively: to exploit or draw a sustained advantage from a person, situation, or resource; to extract something fully (e.g., 'to milk a joke').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a noun, primarily an uncountable substance ('a glass of milk'), but can be countable when referring to types ('goat milks'). The verb 'to milk' is a regular verb and its figurative meaning is common.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Vocabulary for dairy products can differ (e.g., UK 'single cream' vs US 'light cream'). The phrase 'milk float' (UK) refers to an electric delivery vehicle, a term not used in the US. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Similar core connotations of wholesomeness, childhood, and nutrition. The idiom 'to cry over spilt milk' is equally common.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties as a noun. The verb and figurative uses are also equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N (uncountable): 'I drink milk.'V + OBJ: 'She milks the cow.'V + OBJ + of + NP (figurative): 'He milked the company of its assets.'Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cry over spilt milk”
- “the milk of human kindness”
- “milk it for all it's worth”
- “milk and honey”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In business jargon, 'to milk a cash cow' means to profit heavily from a reliable product.
Academic
In biological/nutritional sciences: 'lactose content in mammalian milk'.
Everyday
Referring to the drink, a cooking ingredient, or a grocery item.
Technical
In agriculture: 'milking parlour'; in computing: 'milk a process' (slang for using all resources).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The farmer gets up early to milk the herd.
- The comedian really milked that joke for laughter.
- He's been milking that minor injury to get time off work.
American English
- We need to milk the goats before noon.
- The studio is milking the franchise with too many sequels.
- She milked the applause for a full minute.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) It was coloured milk-white.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The walls were painted milk-blue.
adjective
British English
- She prefers a milk chocolate bar to a dark one.
- The kitchen had classic milk-painted cabinets.
- He ordered a milk coffee.
American English
- The recipe calls for milk chocolate chips.
- The nursery was decorated in a soft milk-white.
- I'll have a milk steak (colloquial, rare).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have milk with my cereal every morning.
- The baby drinks milk from a bottle.
- Is there any milk in the fridge?
- Could you pick up a litre of semi-skimmed milk from the shop?
- She doesn't consume dairy, so she uses oat milk in her coffee.
- The recipe says to add warm milk slowly.
- The government was accused of milking the taxpayers to fund the project.
- Coconut milk is a key ingredient in many Thai curries.
- There's no use crying over spilt milk; the decision's been made.
- The actor skillfully milked the poignant silence before delivering his final line.
- Start-ups often struggle before they find a product that becomes a veritable cash cow to be milked.
- The study analysed the lactoferrin content in various mammalian milks.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'MILK' carton. M-I-L-K: 'My Important Liquid for Kids' (emphasising its nutritional role).
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCE IS A LIQUID / EXPLOITATION IS MILKING (e.g., 'milk a situation for publicity'). NURTURANCE IS MILK (e.g., 'the milk of human kindness').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Russian 'moloko' (молоко) is a direct cognate, but note: 'sour milk' in English is not the same as 'кислое молоко' (which is more like 'yogurt' or 'kefir'). English 'sour milk' is usually spoiled. The Russian idiom 'крокодиловы слёзы' (crocodile tears) does not involve milk, unlike the English idiom 'cry over spilt milk'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'a milk' incorrectly (should be 'some milk' or 'a glass of milk'). Confusing 'skimmed milk' (UK) with 'skim milk' (US). Using 'milk' as a countable noun incorrectly for the substance itself.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following uses 'milk' in a figurative sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable when referring to the liquid substance ('I need milk'). It can be countable when referring to different types ('Various plant milks are available') or servings ('Two milks, please' in a café context).
They mean the same thing: milk with the cream removed. 'Skimmed milk' is the more common term in British English, while 'skim milk' or 'nonfat milk' is standard in American English.
Yes. The verb 'to milk' is commonly used figuratively to mean 'to exploit fully' or 'to get as much advantage as possible from something' (e.g., 'to milk a situation', 'to milk an audience for applause').
It is a literary phrase meaning natural human compassion, sympathy, or benevolence. It was famously used by Shakespeare in 'Macbeth'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Drink
A1 · 49 words · Common words for food, drink and meals.