cheesecake

American  

[cheez-keyk] / ˈtʃizˌkeɪk /

noun

1. Also cheese cake a cake having a firm custardlike texture, made with cream cheese, cottage cheese, or both, and sometimes topped with a jamlike fruit mixture.

2. Also called leg art.  Informal. photographs featuring scantily clothed attractive women.

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cheesecake British  

/ ˈtʃiːzˌkeɪk /

noun

1. a rich tart with a biscuit base, filled with a mixture of cream cheese, cream, sugar, and often sultanas, sometimes having a fruit topping

2. slang women displayed for their sex appeal, as in photographs in magazines, newspapers, or films Compare beefcake

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Etymology

Origin of cheesecake

1400–50; 1930–35, cheesecake for def. 2; late Middle English chese kake; see cheese ¹, cake

Example Sentences

Finally, you can never go wrong with Porto’s, which sells an array of cakes including chocolate raspberry, Parisian chocolate, mango mousse, strawberry cheesecake and more.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

You can add cocoa powder, chocolate chips, strawberries or anything you desire to the mix before baking to craft your favorite cheesecake flavor.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

For dessert, he will whip up a healthy pumpkin cheesecake made of high-protein muffin mix and low-fat cottage cheese.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

For dessert, a slice of Basque cheesecake, no crust, just burnt sugar edges and silken center, served with fruit.

From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025

I was disappointed to miss our traditional family birthday dinner because Mom always picked restaurants that served sophisticated dishes like pomegranate cheesecake and whipped truffle potatoes.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller