goat cheese: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1-B2General, culinary
Quick answer
What does “goat cheese” mean?
A type of cheese made from the milk of goats.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of cheese made from the milk of goats.
A culinary product often characterized by a tangy, earthy flavor and a soft, crumbly texture, though aged varieties can be firm. Associated with Mediterranean and artisanal food cultures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. The spelling 'goat's cheese' is common in British English, while 'goat cheese' is more common in American English.
Connotations
Similar connotations of artisanal, healthy, or strong-flavored food in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally common in both food contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “goat cheese” in a Sentence
[NP] made with goat cheese[NP] topped with goat cheese[NP] served with goat cheeseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “goat cheese” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not typically used as a standalone adjective; attributive use as in 'goat cheese salad' is a noun-noun compound.)
American English
- (Not typically used as a standalone adjective; attributive use as in 'goat cheese pizza' is a noun-noun compound.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of food import/export, restaurant menus, and grocery retail.
Academic
Used in food science, nutrition, and culinary arts research.
Everyday
Common in cooking, restaurant ordering, and grocery shopping conversations.
Technical
Used in dairy science and cheesemaking to specify milk source and production method.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “goat cheese”
- Incorrect article use (e.g., 'I eat a goat cheese' vs. 'I eat goat cheese' or 'a piece of goat cheese').
- Confusing it with 'feta', which can be made from sheep or goat milk.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Chèvre is a specific type of soft, fresh goat cheese from France. In English, 'chèvre' is often used loosely as a synonym for soft goat cheese.
Goat milk contains lactose, but many people with lactose intolerance find goat cheese easier to digest. Aged goat cheeses have very low lactose levels.
Yes, it can be baked, melted, crumbled, or spread. Soft varieties are good for spreads and salads, while firmer aged types can be grated.
It typically has a tangy, earthy, and sometimes slightly sweet or 'goaty' flavour, which varies from mild to very strong depending on age and production.
A type of cheese made from the milk of goats.
Goat cheese is usually general, culinary in register.
Goat cheese: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡəʊt ˌtʃiːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡoʊt ˌtʃiːz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms specifically for 'goat cheese'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: GOAT gives milk, CHEESE is made from milk. Goat + Cheese = Goat Cheese.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOOD AS A LUXURY/ARTISAN PRODUCT (e.g., 'They served an exquisite goat cheese with fig jam').
Practice
Quiz
What is a common British English spelling variant of 'goat cheese'?