cheese

[ cheez ]

/ tʃiz /

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See synonyms for: cheese / cheesed / cheesing on Thesaurus.com

noun

the curd of milk separated from the whey and prepared in many ways as a food.

a definite mass of this substance, often in the shape of a wheel or cylinder.

something of similar shape or consistency, as a mass of pulpy apple residue in cider making.

Informal. partly digested milk curds sometimes spit up by infants.

cheeses, any of several mallows, especially Malva neglecta, a sprawling, weedy plant having small lavender or white flowers and round, flat, segmented fruits thought to resemble little wheels of cheese.

Slang: Vulgar. smegma.

Slang. money: I’m just trying to get my name out there and hopefully earn some cheese.

Metalworking.

a transverse section cut from an ingot, as for making into a tire.
an ingot or billet made into a convex, circular form by blows at the ends.

a low curtsy.

verb (used without object), cheesed, chees·ing.

Informal. (of infants) to spit up partly digested milk curds.

verb (used with object), cheesed, chees·ing.

(in a game, especially a video game) to win (a battle round) by using a strategy that requires minimal skill and knowledge or that exploits a glitch or flaw in game design: He cheesed the fight by trapping his enemy in the environment and attacking without taking damage.

Metalworking. to forge (an ingot or billet) into a cheese.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about cheese

cut the cheese, Slang. to expel gas from the stomach and bowels through the anus; fart.

Origin of cheese

First recorded before 1000; Middle English chese, Old English cēse (cognate with Old Saxon and Old High German kāsi, German Käse ), from Germanic kasjus, from Latin cāseus

Words nearby cheese

cheero, cheer on, cheers, cheer up, cheery, cheese, cheeseboard, cheesebox seat, cheeseburger, cheesecake, cheesecloth

Other definitions for cheese (2 of 3)

cheese²

[ cheez ]

/ tʃiz /

verb (used with object), cheesed, chees·ing.Slang.

to stop; desist.

Origin of cheese

First recorded in 1805–15; perhaps alteration of cease

Other definitions for cheese (3 of 3)

cheese³

[ cheez ]

/ tʃiz /

noun Slang.

big cheese.

Slang. the cheese,

a person or thing that is splendid or first-rate.
something that is exactly what is wanted or required.

Origin of cheese

First recorded in 1835–40 for def. 2; 1895–1900 for def. 1; from Urdu chīz “thing, valuable thing,” from Persian cīz, from Old Persian cish(-ciy) “(some)thing”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cheese in a sentence

Digging back into these old cookbooks is an opportunity to eschew the fatphobic, classist expectations that govern what is “good” and “bad” food and just eat the damn fake cheese.
The Joy of Cooking Other People’s ‘Secret Family Recipes’|Amy McCarthy|September 11, 2020|Eater
It’s the stacking of “multiple layers of cheese on top of each other that close those holes,” she says.
Four summer camps show how to limit COVID-19 outbreak|Erin Garcia de Jesus|September 8, 2020|Science News For Students
Every public-health measure to limit the spread of a virus “is like a layer of Swiss cheese,” Blaisdell says.
Four summer camps show how to limit COVID-19 outbreak|Erin Garcia de Jesus|September 8, 2020|Science News For Students
We want to end your pain and suffering by offering you some options for precise pizza cutters that can cut through even the thickest layer of cheese.
Pizza cutters that will get you the slice of your dreams|PopSci Commerce Team|September 2, 2020|Popular-Science

“Every public health layer is like a layer of Swiss cheese with a hole in it,” Blaisdell says.
How four summer camps in Maine prevented COVID-19 outbreaks|Erin Garcia de Jesus|August 28, 2020|Science News
Mixing meat and dairy is a kosher rule-breaker, so they switched the cheese for potatoes.
I Ate Potato Pancakes Til I Plotzed|Emily Shire|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before serving, bake the cheese packages, combine the salad and vinaigrette, and serve.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Bake the goat cheese packages for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A French green bean salad with warm goat cheese reminds Ina Garten of having lunch in Paris.
The Barefoot Contessa’s Tasty Trip to Paris|Ina Garten|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I remember them coming over all adorable with mac and cheese, collard greens, fried chicken.
All Eyes on Anjelica Huston: The Legendary Actress on Love, Abuse, and Jack Nicholson|Alex Suskind|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Aristide lived on bread and cheese, and foresaw the time when cheese would be a sinful luxury.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
A bailee received some cheese and gave a receipt slating that it was to be kept at the owner's risk of loss from water.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles
Coals!what would he do with coals?Toast his cheese with em, and then come back for more.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3)|Charles Dickens
The brown loaf was cut by a very excited little hostess into five thick squares; the cheese into four.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
Between the pastry and the dessert, have salad and cheese placed before each guest.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley

British Dictionary definitions for cheese (1 of 2)

cheese¹

/ (tʃiːz) /

noun

the curd of milk separated from the whey and variously prepared as a food

a mass or complete cake of this substance

any of various substances of similar consistency, etclemon cheese

big cheese slang an important person

as alike as chalk and cheese or as different as chalk and cheese See chalk (def. 6)

Word Origin for cheese

Old English cēse, from Latin cāseus cheese; related to Old Saxon kāsi

British Dictionary definitions for cheese (2 of 2)

cheese²

/ (tʃiːz) /

verb slang

(tr) to stop; desist

(intr) prison slang to act in a grovelling manner

Word Origin for cheese

C19: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with cheese

cheese

In addition to the idioms beginning with cheese

cheesed off
cheese it

also see:

big cheese

cheese

Idioms about cheese

Origin of cheese

Words nearby cheese

Other definitions for cheese (2 of 3)

Origin of cheese

Other definitions for cheese (3 of 3)

Origin of cheese

Words related to cheese

How to use cheese in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cheese (1 of 2)

Word Origin for cheese

British Dictionary definitions for cheese (2 of 2)

Word Origin for cheese

Other Idioms and Phrases with cheese