Definition

A type of thin, loosely woven fabric made from cotton, often used for straining liquids or wrapping food.

Example

She used cheesecloth to strain the homemade yogurt.

Conversation

Have you ever used cheesecloth for cooking?

Yeah, I used it to strain some homemade yogurt once.

That's a great idea! I was thinking of using it to make my own ricotta cheese.

Definitely! It works perfectly for that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cheesecloth → The word is formed from 'cheese' (from Old English *cēse*, meaning a dairy product made from curd) and 'cloth' (from Old English *clāþ*, meaning a woven fabric). Cheesecloth refers to a type of cloth used in the making or straining of cheese.

Memory Tip

Think of 'cheese' as the dairy product and 'cloth' as the fabric used to strain it — that's why cheesecloth is a fabric specifically for cheese.

Visually Confused Words