buttering
Coating with spread
Buttering is the act of spreading butter on something, typically bread or toast: She was buttering her roll when the phone rang.
The term extends to applying any similar substance in the same motion: He was buttering the pan before pouring the batter.
In the expression buttering up, it means flattering someone to gain favor.
Heated bread; glass-raising honor
- breadLeavened flour product
- knifeSharp cutting utensil
- croissantLayered crescent-shaped pastry
- bagelBoiled, then baked roll
baguette · sourdough · rye · multigrain · muffin · scone · roll · crumpet
Flatter to persuade
- schmoozingCasual strategic socializing
- blarneyFlattering but hollow speech
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
fawning · toadying · sycophancy · bootlicking · brownnosing · apple-polishing · obsequiousness · kowtowing
Without roughness or difficulty
glossy · slick · supple · spreadable · melty · oily · glistening · rich
Cooking with dry heat
- sautéingQuick cooking in fat
- fryingCooking in shallow fat
- cookingPreparing food with heat
- meltingSolid-to-liquid transition
glazing · whisking · basting · greasing · clarified · ghee · margarine · dairy
Lavish attentive care
- decadenceMoral decline through excess
- richnessState of abundance
- treatSomething pleasantly special
- pleasureHappy, satisfied feeling
luxury · comfort · excess · generous · lavish · indulgent · satisfying · hedonism
Becoming less firm
- persuadingInducing belief or action
- primingMaking ready beforehand
- wooingRomantic pursuit of another
- coaxingPersuading through gentle persistence
preparing · disarming · sweetening · manipulating · cajoling · ingratiating · warming · smoothing
toast
Heated bread; glass-raising honor
bagel · baguette · sourdough · rye · multigrain · muffin · scone · roll · crumpet · naan
sweet-talk
Flatter to persuade
- schmoozingCasual strategic socializing
- blarneyFlattering but hollow speech
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
adulation · fawning · toadying · sycophancy · bootlicking · brownnosing · apple-polishing · obsequiousness · kowtowing · groveling
smooth
Without roughness or difficulty
soft · glossy · slick · supple · spreadable · melty · oily · glistening · rich · thick
baking
Cooking with dry heat
melting · glazing · whisking · basting · greasing · clarified · ghee · margarine · dairy · creamery
pampering
Lavish attentive care
pleasure · luxury · comfort · excess · generous · lavish · indulgent · satisfying · hedonism · splurge
softening
Becoming less firm
- persuadingInducing belief or action
- primingMaking ready beforehand
- wooingRomantic pursuit of another
coaxing · preparing · disarming · sweetening · manipulating · cajoling · ingratiating · warming · smoothing · greasing
- Bricklayingbrick, trowel, header, stretcher, course
- trowelingspreading, smoothing, floating, screeding, finishing
- coatingcoating, covering, glazing, lacquering, plating
- bakingbaking, bread baking, cake decorating, mixing, whisking
- eatingchewing, biting, swallowing, nibbling, munching
- stoneworkmasonry, stones, granite, capstones, limestone
butteringscraping
Rubbing away material
wiping off · removing · stripping · clearing · skimming off
butteringcriticizing
Voicing negative assessment
tearing down · disparaging · insulting · berating · disapproval
- buttering upExcessive flattery for advantage
butter, buttery, buttered, butters, buttermilk, butterscotch, butterfingers, butterball, butterfat