semi-hard cheese

noun

UK /ˌsemi ˈhɑːd tʃiːz/

US /ˌsɛmi ˈhɑrd tʃiz/

Semi-hard cheese is a kind of cheese that is soft enough to cut but firm enough to hold its shape.

Cheddar and Gouda are popular kinds of semi-hard cheese.

SYNONYMS

medium-hard cheese firm cheese semi-firm cheese partly hard cheese

RELATED WORDS

cheddar gouda edam swiss cheese cheese wheel

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A cheese category between soft and hard, often used for slicing and melting.

The recipe calls for a semi-hard cheese that melts smoothly.

3. A cheese with a texture that is neither spreadable nor crumbly.

Semi-hard cheese is easy to grate over pasta.

4. A cheese aged for a moderate time to develop a firmer body.

This semi-hard cheese was aged for three months.