Butcher: meaning, definitions and examples

🔪

Add to dictionary

butcher

[ˈbʊtʃər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

meat

A person whose job is to prepare and sell meat in a shop.

Synonyms

meat cutter, meat seller.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
butcher	Used to refer to someone who cuts and sells meat in a shop. It can also have a negative connotation when describing someone who performs a task very poorly or someone who kills people brutally. The butcher at the local market has the freshest cuts of meat. He really butchered that speech; it was hard to listen to.
meat cutter	A specific term used to refer to someone who primarily cuts meat. It’s more technical and often used within the industry or for job titles. The meat cutter prepared the steaks perfectly for the restaurant. Working as a meat cutter requires special training and a good eye for quality.
meat seller	Used to refer to someone whose primary role is to sell meat, without necessarily cutting it. It’s a broader term that focuses more on the selling aspect. The meat seller offered a variety of sausages and cured meats. As a meat seller, she spends most of her day interacting with customers and taking orders.

Word

Description / Examples

butcher

Used to refer to someone who cuts and sells meat in a shop. It can also have a negative connotation when describing someone who performs a task very poorly or someone who kills people brutally.

The butcher at the local market has the freshest cuts of meat.
He really butchered that speech; it was hard to listen to.

meat cutter

A specific term used to refer to someone who primarily cuts meat. It’s more technical and often used within the industry or for job titles.

The meat cutter prepared the steaks perfectly for the restaurant.
Working as a meat cutter requires special training and a good eye for quality.

meat seller

Used to refer to someone whose primary role is to sell meat, without necessarily cutting it. It’s a broader term that focuses more on the selling aspect.

The meat seller offered a variety of sausages and cured meats.
As a meat seller, she spends most of her day interacting with customers and taking orders.

Examples of usage

The butcher at the local market always has the freshest cuts of meat.
My uncle used to be a butcher before he retired.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

slaughter

To slaughter animals for food.

Synonyms

kill, slaughter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
butcher	In a different context, this can also refer to someone who kills people, often in a violent and brutal way. It has a very negative connotation. The infamous warlord was known as the butcher of the region.
slaughter	Typically used to describe the mass killing of animals for food or the brutal and violent killing of people. It often implies a large scale or particularly gruesome act. The farmers took their cattle to be slaughtered. The historical event was marked by the slaughter of innocent villagers.
kill	Used in a general context to describe the act of ending a life, whether human, animal, or plant. It is commonly used in many different everyday contexts. The lion killed its prey swiftly. The frost killed all the flowers in the garden.

Word

Description / Examples

butcher

In a different context, this can also refer to someone who kills people, often in a violent and brutal way. It has a very negative connotation.

The infamous warlord was known as the butcher of the region.

slaughter

Typically used to describe the mass killing of animals for food or the brutal and violent killing of people. It often implies a large scale or particularly gruesome act.

The farmers took their cattle to be slaughtered.
The historical event was marked by the slaughter of innocent villagers.

kill

Used in a general context to describe the act of ending a life, whether human, animal, or plant. It is commonly used in many different everyday contexts.

The lion killed its prey swiftly.
The frost killed all the flowers in the garden.

Examples of usage

The farmer had to butcher the pig for the upcoming feast.
The company was criticized for butchering the endangered species.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'butcher' comes from the Old French word 'bouchier', which means 'to kill' or 'to cut up' meat.
Root of the word can be traced back to the Latin 'butticarius', which refers to a person dealing with meat.
Early butchers were essential in communities, as they provided meat and often played roles in local markets.

Historical Significance

In medieval times, butchers were often regulated by guilds that set standards for quality and pricing.
Butchers were sometimes among the wealthiest tradespeople, holding social and economic power in towns.
The practice of butchering has existed since the dawn of civilization, with evidence of meat processing dating back to prehistoric times.

Cultural Representation

Butchers are often featured in literature and folklore, symbolizing both sustenance and the darker side of food production.
In various cultures, butchers are associated with traditional festivals where meat plays a central role in celebrations.
Movies and shows sometimes portray butchers as strong, rugged characters, adding dramatic flair to their profession.

Scientific Aspects

The anatomy of animals is crucial for butchers, as understanding muscle groups affects how meat is cut.
A deep knowledge of meat preservation techniques, such as curing and smoking, is essential to a butcher's skill set.
Butchers often collaborate with farmers to ensure the humane treatment of livestock, impacting the quality of the meat.

Modern Trends

The rise of artisanal butcher shops emphasizes local sourcing and sustainable practices, catering to health-conscious consumers.
Butchering has evolved into a culinary art form; many chefs seek butchering skills for farm-to-table dining experiences.
Cooking shows and social media have popularized unique cutting techniques, making the butcher's craft more visible to the public.

Translations

Translations of the word "butcher" in other languages:

🇵🇹 açougueiro

🇮🇳 कसाई

🇩🇪 Metzger

🇮🇩 tukang daging

🇺🇦 м'ясник

🇵🇱 rzeźnik

🇯🇵 肉屋

🇫🇷 boucher

🇪🇸 carnicero

🇹🇷 kasap

🇰🇷 정육점 주인

🇸🇦 جزار

🇨🇿 řezník

🇸🇰 mäsiar

🇨🇳 屠夫

🇸🇮 mesar

🇮🇸 kjötkaupmaður

🇰🇿 қасапшы

🇬🇪 ყასაბი

🇦🇿 qəssab

🇲🇽 carnicero

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,449, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

...
11446 liberally
11447 flint
11448 migratory
11449 butcher
11450 misled
11451 juror
11452 mildly
...