Milk — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈmilk/

Meaning & Definition of Milk

Milk (noun)

  1. a fluid secreted by the mammary glands of females for the nourishment of their young
  2. milk from an animal and especially a cow used as food by people
  3. a food product produced from seeds or fruit that resembles and is used similarly to cow's milk

Milk (verb)

  1. to draw milk from the breasts or udder of
  2. suckle
  3. to draw (milk) from the breast or udder

Milk (adjective)

  1. giving milk; specifically, bred or suitable primarily for milk production

Milk (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to take unfair advantage of

    "unscrupulous people trying to milk the welfare system for all it's worth"

    similar: abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, impose (on or upon), leverage, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work, trade on, walk on
    related: jerk around, manipulate, mistreat, bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick, commercialize, commodify

Related Entry: Milk-and-water (adjective)

Milk-and-water is a different word from Milk. The synonyms below are for milk-and-water, not for milk.

  1. lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character

    "a milk-and-water campaign speech that most likely did not inspire a single person"

    similar: banal, flat, insipid, namby-pamby, watery, wishy-washy
    related: unexciting, uninspiring, unrewarding, bland, boring, drab, dreary, dry, dull, heavy, humdrum, jading, leaden, lifeless, monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous, tedious, tiresome, tiring, uninteresting, vapid, wearisome, weary, wearying, inane, innocuous, inoffensive, mild, soft, subdued, tame, weak, common, commonplace, ordinary, stale, unexceptional
    near: piquant, poignant, pungent, racy, spicy, meaty, substantial, entertaining, exciting, galvanizing, inspiring, invigorating, thrilling

  2. lacking strength of will or character

    "we need to elect a leader with a bold vision, not someone who's been a milk-and-water yes-man all his life"

    similar: characterless, effete, frail, invertebrate, limp-wristed, namby-pamby, nerveless, soft, spineless, weak, weak-kneed, weakened, weakling, wet (British), wimpish, wimpy, wishy-washy
    related: flabby, flaccid, forceless, ineffective, ineffectual, impotent, impuissant, powerless, emasculated, unnerved, lamblike, meek, pliable, submissive, corrupt, dastardly, unprincipled, unscrupulous, villainous, cowardly, craven, fainthearted, lily-livered, nebbishy, poltroon, pusillanimous, sissy, timid, infirm, irresolute, vacillating
    opposite: backboned, firm, hard, strong, tough
    near: ethical, good, moral, principled, right, righteous, upright, virtuous, determined, mettlesome, resolute, unrelenting, courageous, stalwart, stouthearted

Related Entry: Milk-livered (adjective)

Milk-livered is a different word from Milk. The synonyms below are for milk-livered, not for milk.

  1. having or showing a shameful lack of courage

    "vented his spleen at those milk-livered men who refused to fight for king and country"

    similar: chicken, chicken-livered, chickenhearted, cowardly, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
    related: diffident, fainthearted, fearful, timid, timorous, afraid, frightened, scared, careful, cautious, wary, bashful, coy, shy, feeble, soft, unmanly, weak
    opposite: brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
    near: audacious, bold, brazen, cheeky, nervy, plucky, spirited, spunky, determined, resolute

Related Entry: Milk snake (noun)

Milk snake is a different word from Milk. The synonyms below are for milk snake, not for milk.

  1. as in sea snake, rat snake

    similar: adder, anaconda, asp, black racer, blacksnake, blue racer, boa, bull snake, bushmaster, chicken snake, cobra, constrictor, copperhead, coral snake, cottonmouth moccasin, diamondback rattlesnake, fer-de-lance, garter snake, gopher snake, green snake, hognose snake, horned viper, indigo snake, king cobra, king snake, krait, mamba, moccasin, pine snake, pit viper, puff adder, python, racer, rat snake, rattlesnake, sea serpent, sea snake, sidewinder, taipan, water moccasin, water snake, worm snake, serpent, snake, viper

Related Entry: Milk snakes (noun)

Milk snakes is a different word from Milk. The synonyms below are for milk snakes, not for milk.

  1. as in sea snakes, rat snakes

    similar: adders, anacondas, asps, black racers, blacksnakes, blue racers, boas, bull snakes, bushmasters, chicken snakes, cobras, constrictors, copperheads, coral snakes, cottonmouth moccasins, diamondback rattlesnakes, fer-de-lance, garter snakes, gopher snakes, green snakes, hognose snakes, horned vipers, indigo snakes, king cobras, king snakes, kraits, mambas, moccasins, pine snakes, pit vipers, puff adders, pythons, racers, rat snakes, rattlesnakes, sea serpents, sea snakes, sidewinders, taipans, water moccasins, water snakes, worm snakes, serpents, snakes, vipers

Related Entry: Cry (verb)

Cry is a different word from Milk. The synonyms below are for cry, not for milk.

  1. to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress

    "some kids started to cry even before the doctor had given them their shot"

    similar: bawl, blub (chiefly British), blubber, sob, weep
    related: greet (Scottish), grieve, keen, lament, mourn, howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl, bleat, mewl, pule, whimper, whine, sniffle, snivel, groan, moan, sigh

  2. to utter one's distinctive animal sound

    "we knew that we were getting very close to the ocean when we could hear sea gulls crying"

    similar: call, sing

  3. to speak so as to be heard at a distance

    "a mother crying for help"

    similar: bawl, bay, bellow, call, holler, hollo, roar, shout, sound off, thunder, vociferate, yell
    related: crow, whoop, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal, caterwaul, howl, ululate, wail, yawp, yowl, hail, speak out, speak up
    near: breathe, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper

Related Entry: Cry (out) (verb)

Cry (out) is a different word from Milk. The synonyms below are for cry (out), not for milk.

  1. to utter with a sudden burst of strong feeling

    "I can't stand it! he cried out"

    similar: blat, blurt (out), bolt, ejaculate, exclaim
    related: blunder, leak, bellow, bleat, crow, holler, hoot, howl, roar, shout, whoop, yowl, aah, ooh, interject

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Milk

The most common words with a similar meaning to Milk:

abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, impose (on or upon), leverage, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work, trade on, walk on

Related Words for Milk

jerk around, manipulate, mistreat, bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick, commercialize, commodify

Word Forms of Milk

Inflections: milks, milked, milking

Origin & Etymology of Milk

Middle English, from Old English meolc, milc; akin to Old High German miluh "milk," Old English melcan "to milk" emulsion

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Milk

Words & Phrases Containing Milk

milk-and-water, milk chocolate, milk crate, milk fat, milk fever, milk glass

Frequently Asked Questions about Milk

What does "Milk" mean?

"Milk" means a fluid secreted by the mammary glands of females for the nourishment of their young. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: a fluid secreted by the mammary glands of females for the nourishment of their young.

What is another word for "Milk"?

Other words for "Milk" include abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, impose (on or upon), leverage, pimp and play (on or upon). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Milk" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Milk"?

There are 24 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Milk". Common alternatives include abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), exploit, impose (on or upon), leverage, pimp, play (on or upon), use and work.

How do you use "Milk" in a sentence?

Examples of "Milk" in a sentence: "unscrupulous people trying to milk the welfare system for all it's worth".

Is "Milk" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Milk" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Milk" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Milk" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Milk"?

"Milk" is pronounced /ˈmilk/.

What is the origin of the word "Milk"?

"Milk" comes from Middle English, from Old English meolc, milc; akin to Old High German miluh "milk," Old English melcan "to milk" emulsion. First known use: before 12th century.