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Definition of edam
edam
/ˈiːdæm/
E · dam
Plural:edams
edam Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
8
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A semi-hard Dutch cheese, typically pale yellow in color and traditionally formed into spheres coated with a distinctive red wax rind.
Example
"We arranged a simple platter of crackers, grapes, and sliced Edam for the guests."
2
A town in the province of North Holland, Netherlands, historically renowned for its cheese markets and maritime trade.
Word Nuance & Usage
Although the word is often written in lowercase when referring to the cheese, it is capitalized as 'Edam' when referring to the town or treated as a proper noun.
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after the town of Edam in the province of North Holland, Netherlands, where the cheese was historically traded at local markets.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Edam. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 18, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/edam