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; cheese ¹, cake

Example Sentences

Still on my must-try list: a gingerbread-cranberry cheesecake trifle at Disneyland’s Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe and the gingerbread pancakes at River Belle Terrace.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Salon

Skip the baklava and finish with the basque cheesecake.

From Salon

Restaurants are using caviar to create odd food combos and elevate unexpected dishes, adding the fish eggs to everything from cheesecake to chicken nuggets and hot dogs.

From The Wall Street Journal

The idea came from dinner at Le Bouchon, where they serve a winter cheesecake with stewed fruit and — yes — granola.

From Salon