When you look at steak in m-w, you might be surprised to learn that one of the definitions for steak is: a thick slice or piece of a non-meat food especially when prepared or served in the manner of a beef steak.
Same with coconut milk, would you be confused with cow milk with some coconut bits in it? No.
Also, shouldn't you be looking at the Italian dictionary. I think there is a very heavy cultural slant to this that you're ignoring that is informed by the inflexibility of non-english languages.