brick cheese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Neutral to specialized/technical (culinary)
Quick answer
What does “brick cheese” mean?
A semi-soft, sliceable American cheese with a mild to sharp flavor, traditionally made in brick-shaped loaves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A semi-soft, sliceable American cheese with a mild to sharp flavor, traditionally made in brick-shaped loaves.
A style of cheese originating in the US Midwest, characterized by its rectangular shape and a rind that can range from washed to waxed, used in cooking and for sandwiches.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in North American English. In the UK, it is largely unknown as a specific cheese variety, though the phrase could be understood literally.
Connotations
In the US: Connotes a regional, often Wisconsin-based, dairy product. In the UK: No specific connotations beyond the literal words.
Frequency
Very high frequency in US culinary/regional contexts, especially the Midwest; extremely low to zero frequency in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “brick cheese” in a Sentence
[Verb] + brick cheese: eat, melt, slice, grate, buy, age[Adjective] + brick cheese: Wisconsin, sharp, mild, creamy, agedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “brick cheese” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This cheese is not commonly 'bricked' in the UK.
American English
- They brick the cheese in rectangular hoops for about 15 hours.
adverb
British English
- [No common adverbial use]
American English
- [No common adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- He bought a brick-shaped cheese.
American English
- The brick cheese tradition is strong in Wisconsin.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in dairy industry, food import/export, and grocery retail contexts.
Academic
Appears in food science, culinary arts, and agricultural history texts.
Everyday
Used in cooking, shopping, and restaurant contexts, primarily in North America.
Technical
Used in cheesemaking to describe a specific process and product with defined moisture and fat content.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “brick cheese”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “brick cheese”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “brick cheese”
- Using 'brick cheese' to refer to any hard cheese (like Cheddar).
- Capitalizing incorrectly (it is not typically capitalized unless starting a sentence).
- Treating 'brick' as an adjective describing texture rather than shape.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While it originated and is most famously produced in the US (especially Wisconsin), similar styles may be produced elsewhere, but the term is strongly associated with American cheesemaking.
Yes. Muenster, Monterey Jack, or a mild Havarti are often recommended as substitutes due to similar texture and meltability.
No. It can be pale yellow to orange, depending on whether annatto coloring is added during production.
It is a regional American variety with limited export history to the UK. British cheese taxonomy focuses more on European and traditional British varieties.
A semi-soft, sliceable American cheese with a mild to sharp flavor, traditionally made in brick-shaped loaves.
Brick cheese is usually neutral to specialized/technical (culinary) in register.
Brick cheese: in British English it is pronounced /brɪk tʃiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /brɪk tʃiz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a rectangular BRICK of CHEESE. The name is literal—it's cheese formed in a brick-shaped mold.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORM IS SHAPE (The cheese is named for its distinctive brick-like rectangular form).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic that gives 'brick cheese' its name?