cheese
cheez
Cheese (noun) means a solid food made from curdled milk, typically aged and eaten in slices, blocks, or grated. Example: “She added a slice of cheese to the burger.”
noun
1
A solid food made from curdled milk, typically aged and eaten in slices, blocks, or grated.
"She added a slice of cheese to the burger."
"This wine pairs nicely with a strong blue cheese."
"We grated some cheese over the pasta before baking it."
2
Something overly sentimental, corny, or clichéd (usually as "cheesy" or "the cheese").
"The movie's ending was pure cheese."
"The lyrics were full of cheese, but everyone sang along anyway."
"I know it's cheese, but I love a happy ending."
verb
1
Informally, to smile broadly, especially for a photo.
"Everyone cheesed for the camera at the reunion."
"The kids cheesed as their grandad took a photo in the garden."
"She cheesed for the camera, showing all her teeth."
How to use cheese
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe dairy food most people think of first; informally it can also mean something corny or a big camera-ready smile.
Common pairings
block of cheese
say cheese
cheesy grin
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Word forms
- Plural
- cheeses, cheesen
- Third person singular
- cheeses
- Past tense
- cheesed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She added a slice of _____ to the burger.
Etymology
From Old English cīese, ultimately from Latin cāseus ("cheese"), the same root that gives Spanish queso.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cheese
See all rhymes for cheese →Frequently asked questions
What does “cheese” mean?
The word “cheese” means a solid food made from curdled milk, typically aged and eaten in slices, blocks, or grated. In plain terms, the dairy food most people think of first; informally it can also mean something corny or a big camera-ready smile.
How do you pronounce “cheese”?
“Cheese” is pronounced cheez (/t͡ʃiz/ in IPA).
How do you use “cheese” in a sentence?
Here is “cheese” used in a sentence: “She added a slice of cheese to the burger.”
What is another word for “cheese”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cheese” include money, fromage and gamebreaking.
What is the opposite of “cheese”?
The opposite of “cheese” — its antonyms — is fill.
What part of speech is “cheese”?
Depending on how it is used, “cheese” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cheese” come from?
The word “cheese” comes from Latin. From Old English cīese, ultimately from Latin cāseus ("cheese"), the same root that gives Spanish queso.
Is “cheese” a common word?
“Cheese” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What are the main types of cheese?
Cheese is often grouped by texture and age: fresh cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta, soft ripened ones like brie, semi-hard varieties like cheddar and gouda, hard cheeses like parmesan, and blue cheeses such as stilton. Flavour ranges from mild and creamy to sharp and tangy.
How is cheese made?
Cheese is made by curdling milk, usually with an enzyme called rennet plus a starter culture. This separates the milk into solid curds and liquid whey. The curds are drained, pressed, salted, and often aged for weeks, months, or years to develop their texture and flavour.
Is cheese good for you?
Cheese is a valuable source of protein, calcium, and vitamins, so it can be part of a balanced diet. It is also high in saturated fat and salt, so moderation matters. Nutritional value varies widely between types, and portion size makes a real difference.
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