■ noun
1》 food made of flour, water, and yeast mixed together and baked.
2》 informal money.
Phrases
~ and butter a person's livelihood or main source of income.
~ and circuses entertainment or political policies intended to keep the masses happy and docile.
break ~ celebrate the Eucharist.
cast one's ~ upon the waters do good without expecting gratitude or reward. [with biblical allusion to Eccles. 11:1.]
know which side one's ~ is buttered informal know where one's advantage lies.
Origin
OE brēad , of Gmc origin.