cream cheese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal; culinary.
Quick answer
What does “cream cheese” mean?
A soft, mild, unripened cheese made from a mixture of milk and cream.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft, mild, unripened cheese made from a mixture of milk and cream.
Can refer metaphorically to something soft, spreadable, or pale in colour.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The product is identical. UK English may be slightly more likely to use a hyphen in formal writing (cream-cheese), but the open form dominates.
Connotations
Generally neutral. In both varieties, it is strongly associated with bagels, cheesecake, and dips.
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties due to widespread culinary use.
Grammar
How to Use “cream cheese” in a Sentence
[N] + [of] + cream cheese (a tub of cream cheese)[ADJ] + cream cheese (plain cream cheese)[V] + cream cheese (spread the cream cheese)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cream cheese” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- A cream-cheese frosting topped the carrot cake.
- He prefers a cream-cheese bagel.
American English
- She made a cream cheese dip for the party.
- The recipe calls for cream cheese icing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail, food manufacturing, and supply chain contexts.
Academic
Rare; may appear in food science, nutrition, or culinary history papers.
Everyday
Very common in domestic cooking, shopping, and casual dining contexts.
Technical
Used in dairy product specifications and culinary arts with precise fat content designations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cream cheese”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cream cheese”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cream cheese”
- Treating it as a countable noun (*two cream cheeses).
- Confusing it with 'cheese cream' or other word orders.
- Misspelling as 'creem cheese'.
- Using it as a verb (*I cream-cheesed the bagel) is non-standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Cream cheese is a *type* of soft cheese, but not all soft cheeses are cream cheese. Cream cheese is specifically made from milk and cream and has a mild, slightly tangy flavour.
Yes, it is commonly used in both sweet applications (like cheesecake and frosting) and savoury ones (like dips and pasta sauces).
It must be refrigerated. Once opened, it should be kept in its original container or an airtight container and used within the timeframe suggested on the packaging.
While both are soft, creamy cheeses, mascarpone is an Italian cheese made from cream, giving it a higher fat content and a richer, sweeter, and less tangy flavour than cream cheese.
A soft, mild, unripened cheese made from a mixture of milk and cream.
Cream cheese is usually neutral to informal; culinary. in register.
Cream cheese: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkriːm ˈtʃiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkriːm ˈtʃiːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specifically for 'cream cheese']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the colour and texture: CREAM is smooth and white, and this CHEESE is just like that.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOFTNESS IS CREAM CHEESE (e.g., 'The clouds were like cream cheese').
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of cream cheese?