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noun

parmesan

PAH-mih-zan

Parmesan (noun) means a hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, salty flavour, traditionally made near Parma. Example: “She grated fresh parmesan over the risotto just before serving.”

noun
1
A hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, salty flavour, traditionally made near Parma.
"She grated fresh parmesan over the risotto just before serving."
"The recipe calls for a generous handful of parmesan."
adj
1
Coming from or associated with Parma, Italy.
"The chef used a traditional parmesan recipe passed down through his family."

How to use parmesan

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA hard, salty Italian cheese usually grated over pasta or salads.

Common pairings
grated parmesan parmesan cheese shaved parmesan

Word forms

parmesans plural

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She grated fresh _____ over the risotto just before serving.

Etymology

From Middle French parmesan, ultimately from Latin Parma, the Italian city the cheese is named after.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for parmesan

See all rhymes for parmesan →

Frequently asked questions

What does “parmesan” mean?

The word “parmesan” means a hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, salty flavour, traditionally made near Parma. In plain terms, a hard, salty Italian cheese usually grated over pasta or salads.

How do you pronounce “parmesan”?

“Parmesan” is pronounced PAH-mih-zan (/ˈpɑːmɪˌzæn/ in IPA).

How do you use “parmesan” in a sentence?

Here is “parmesan” used in a sentence: “She grated fresh parmesan over the risotto just before serving.”

What part of speech is “parmesan”?

Depending on how it is used, “parmesan” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “parmesan” come from?

The word “parmesan” comes from Latin. From Middle French parmesan, ultimately from Latin Parma, the Italian city the cheese is named after.

How many meanings does “parmesan” have?

“Parmesan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard, aged Italian cheese with a strong, salty flavour, traditionally made near Parma.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial