tartiner

Senses

1. 1.

   to spread (butter, jam, etc.)

   Apply a spread or coating to bread or another surface using a knife

2. 2.

   to write at length

   Write extensively or verbosely about something (informal, pejorative)

Examples

• "Elle tartine le pain avec du beurre et de la confiture."

  She spreads butter and jam on the bread.

• "Il a tartiné trois pages sur ce sujet ennuyeux."

  He went on for three pages about that boring subject.

• "Les enfants aiment tartiner leur toast avec du Nutella."

  The children like to spread Nutella on their toast.

Usage

Common in everyday speech for spreading soft foods. The second sense (writing at length) is informal and often slightly dismissive, used when someone writes too much about a trivial matter. Regular -er verb conjugation.