milker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized/Informal
Quick answer
What does “milker” mean?
A person who milks animals, especially cows, or a machine used for milking.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who milks animals, especially cows, or a machine used for milking.
Something that provides continuous benefit or profit; often used metaphorically in business contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal difference in core meaning. 'Milker' is slightly more common in British agricultural contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in agricultural contexts. Metaphorical use ('cash cow') is more common in American business slang.
Frequency
Uncommon in general usage in both varieties. More likely found in specialist agricultural texts or regional dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “milker” in a Sentence
The milker + VERB (e.g., The milker attached the cups.)ADJ + milker (e.g., an efficient milker)milker + of + NOUN (e.g., a milker of goats)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “milker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (As a verb, 'milk' is used. 'Milker' is a noun.)
American English
- (As a verb, 'milk' is used. 'Milker' is a noun.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
American English
- (Not used as an adverb.)
adjective
British English
- (Not standardly used as an adjective. Use 'milking' as in 'milking parlour'.)
American English
- (Not standardly used as an adjective. Use 'milking' as in 'milking machine'.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal, metaphorical: 'That product line is our main milker.'
Academic
Rare, only in agricultural history or technology studies.
Everyday
Very rare outside of farming communities.
Technical
Used in veterinary science, animal husbandry, and agricultural engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “milker”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “milker”
- Using 'milker' to mean 'milkman'.
- Pluralizing unnecessarily in compound nouns (e.g., 'milkers machine' instead of 'milking machine').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can also be a machine designed for milking animals.
No, it has low frequency and is mostly confined to agricultural or specific informal contexts.
A 'milker' is gender-neutral and modern. A 'milkmaid' is an archaic, female-specific term.
No, the related verb is 'to milk'. 'Milker' is only a noun.
A person who milks animals, especially cows, or a machine used for milking.
Milker is usually specialized/informal in register.
Milker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɪlkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Cash cow (metaphorically related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MILK + ER (like 'baker' or 'teacher') — a person or thing that does the milking.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOURCE OF SUSTENANCE/PROFIT (e.g., 'The new client is a real milker for the firm.')
Practice
Quiz
In a modern business context, 'milker' is most likely to be used: