Definition

A type of cheese that is semi-soft to hard, with a mild to medium sharp taste, originally made in Italy.

Example

I love using fontina cheese in my pasta dishes for its creamy texture.

Conversation

Have you ever tried fontina cheese before?

Yeah, I love it! It's so creamy and delicious.

I recently made a pasta dish with fontina and it was amazing.

That sounds incredible — I need to get that recipe!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fontina is derived from the Italian word 'fontina', which refers to a type of cheese originating from the Aosta Valley in Italy. The term is believed to be related to 'fontina' (meaning from the spring), as the cheese is traditionally made in the alpine pastures where the milk comes from cows grazing near springs.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fontina' as cheese that comes from the 'spring' ('fontina' relates to springs) — this helps you remember that it's a cheese made in a specific region.

Visually Confused Words