butcher meaning

UK /ˈbʊtʃə/ US /ˈbʊtʃɚ/ 2 syllables

butcher (noun): a retailer of meat.

butcher has 5 meanings in this dictionary, as noun and verb.

butcher as a noun

  1. a retailer of meat

    Synonyms: meatman

    Type of: merchant

    Kinds: pork butcher

  2. a brutal indiscriminate murderer

    Type of: murderer

  3. a person who slaughters or dresses meat for market

    Synonyms: slaughterer

    Type of: skilled worker

    Kinds: knacker

  4. someone who makes mistakes because of incompetence

    Synonyms: bungler, blunderer, fumbler, bumbler, stumbler, sad sack, botcher, fuckup

    Type of: incompetent

    Related forms: butcherly

butcher as a verb

  1. kill (animals) usually for food consumption
    • They slaughtered their only goat to survive the winter

    Synonyms: slaughter

    Type of: kill

    Kinds: chine

    Related forms: butchery

How to pronounce butcher

butcher is pronounced /ˈbʊtʃə/ in British English and /ˈbʊtʃɚ/ in American English. It has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.

Word lists: words starting with BU · words ending in ER · 7-letter words

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