fontina
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of fontina
1935–40; < Italian < Upper Italian dial. (Val d'Aosta), of uncertain origin
Explanation
Fontina is a mild, nutty-flavored cheese that's been produced in a region of the Italian Alps since the 1300s. Because it melts easily, fontina is often used in cheesy sauces. There are many different types of fontina, from semi soft to hard, some very mild and others a bit sharper in flavor. They're all made with cow's milk and have a high fat content that gives them a smooth, creamy taste. Young, soft fontina is an ingredient in many cheese fondue recipes. Originally an Italian cheese, fontina is now made in many different countries. Fontina, according to some sources, comes from the Fontin pasture in the Alps' Aosta Valley.
Vocabulary lists containing fontina
Cheesy Goodness
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Free Period
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Manchego is a personal favorite that shines in dessert contexts, and the same goes for aged gouda or even fontina.
From Salon ● May 24, 2025
American cheese, cheddar, Swiss, Munster, fontina and Havarti are also fine choices.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 21, 2023
With a mixture of Tillamook white cheddar, fontina, Gruyère, Brie and Pecorino Romano cheeses, this mac and cheese is undeniably an explosion of cheese.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 26, 2022
The golden crust relies on ground cassava versus breadcrumbs for its crunch; a topping of fontina cheese and tomato sauce slips berbere, the warm Ethiopian spice blend, into the meld.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 12, 2021
The food leans toward comfort with some original touches like Nashville-hot frog legs, vegetable fried rice with a marinated skirt steak, and chicken “Parmanese,” a hybrid of Parm and Milanese made with fontina cheese.
From New York Times ● Nov. 2, 2021
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
