Meaning & use
Edam
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountable
A mild, firm Dutch cheese, usually sold in a round shape covered with red wax.
Grammar: Uncountable when talking about the food: I bought some Edam. Countable when meaning a whole cheese: two Edams.
Patterns
- a piece of Edam
- Edam cheese
She sliced some Edam for the sandwiches.
Edam is often served with crackers and fruit.
This Edam has a slightly nutty flavor.
Word forms
| plural | Edams |
|---|
Common combinations
- Edam cheese
- The shop sells Gouda and Edam cheese.
- a ball of Edam
- He bought a ball of Edam at the market.
- mild Edam
- Mild Edam is good for people who don't like strong cheese.
- red wax
- The red wax around Edam keeps it fresh.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Gouda
- A similar Dutch cheese, but Gouda is usually creamier and sold in flat wheels rather than balls.
Commonly confused: Edam or Gouda?
Edam vs Gouda
Both are Dutch cheeses, but Edam is milder and often coated in red wax, while Gouda is richer and has a yellow wax coating.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Edam' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Edam' is uncountable when referring to the food, so 'a slice of Edam' is correct. 'An Edam' would mean a whole cheese, which is not what you slice. 'The Edam cheese' is possible but less natural here, and 'Edams' is the plural for whole cheeses, not for slices.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Edam”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.