Cream

n. [Fr. crème, Pr., Sp., & It. crema, L. Lat. crema, crema lactis, formed from Lat. cremor, thick juice or broth; allied to A-S. ream, Ger. rahm, D. room, Icel. riomi.]

1Sense 1. The oily, unctuous substance, of a yellowish color, which, when milk stands unagitated in a cool place, rises and forms a scum on the surface.

2Sense 2. The part of any liquor that rises and collects on the surface. [Rare.]

3Sense 3. The best part of a thing; as, the cream of a jest or story.

Cream of lime, the scum of lime-water, or that part of lime which, after being dissolved in its caustic state, separates from the water in the mild state of chalk or limestone.—Cream of tartar, purified tartar or argal, being the bi-tartrate of potassa;—so called because it rises, like cream, to the surface of the liquor in which it is purified.