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Definition of parmesan

parmesan

/ˈpɑːr.məˌzɑːn/
par · me · san
Plural:parmesans
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parmesan Lexical Profile

parmesan Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A hard, dry, granular Italian cheese made from cow's milk, typically aged and used grated as a garnish or ingredient in pasta, soups, and other dishes.

Example

"She sprinkled a generous layer of freshly grated parmesan over her spaghetti bolognese."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for parmesan

Word Nuance & Usage

Within the European Union, the term 'Parmesan' is legally restricted to refer exclusively to authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano, whereas in other parts of the world, it is often used as a generic term for any hard, granular grating cheese.

• Nearby Words

parlor
parm
parma
parmesan
parmigiana
parmigiano
parnassia

Word Origin & Etymology

Mid 16th century: from Middle French 'parmesan', from Italian 'parmigiano', meaning 'of or from Parma', a city in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Parmesan. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/parmesan
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