roquefort
C1Formal / Culinary
Definition
Meaning
A strong-tasting, crumbly blue cheese made from sheep's milk, aged in caves in Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, France.
Any blue cheese, particularly a sheep's milk variety, often used to denote a strong, piquant flavour in gastronomy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun; often capitalised but can appear in lower case when referring generically to the style of cheese. Denotes a specific product with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences; both varieties treat it as a proper noun for the specific French cheese.
Connotations
Associated with gourmet cuisine, strong flavours, and European culinary tradition equally in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to closer culinary ties to France, but common in US gourmet contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[eat/have/serve] + RoquefortRoquefort + [made/produced] + in FranceRoquefort + [with/on] + [salad/cracker]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contexts of import/export, gourmet food retail, and restaurant supply.
Academic
Appears in culinary history, food science, and European cultural studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing cheese platters, recipes, or dining experiences.
Technical
Specific in gastronomy and dairy production under PDO regulations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The Roquefort dressing was too strong for her taste.
American English
- He ordered a salad with Roquefort vinaigrette.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like cheese, but Roquefort is too strong for me.
- We bought some Roquefort and bread for a picnic.
- The recipe calls for genuine Roquefort, but a local blue cheese can be substituted.
- The Roquefort's distinctive piquancy, derived from Penicillium roqueforti mould, is a result of its specific cave ageing process.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ROCK-fort' – a cheese so strong it's like a fort made of rock, from Roquefort, France.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS FLAVOUR (a strong, pungent cheese).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "голубой сыр" без контекста, так как это общий термин. В русском заимствовано "рокфор".
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'Roqefort' or 'Rockfort'.
- Using lowercase 'r' when referring to the specific PDO product.
- Pronouncing the final 't' in British English (it is silent).
Practice
Quiz
What is a defining characteristic of genuine Roquefort?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, genuine Roquefort with PDO status must be made exclusively from sheep's milk.
In informal contexts, sometimes, but strictly it refers only to the specific cheese from the Roquefort region of France.
Wrap it in foil or wax paper and keep it in the refrigerator's cheese compartment to maintain moisture and prevent odour transfer.
Because of the blue-green veins of mould (Penicillium roqueforti) that develop during the ageing process, giving it its characteristic flavour and appearance.