turophile

noun

tu·​ro·​phile ˈtu̇r-ə-ˌfī(-ə)l How to pronounce turophile (audio)
ˈtyu̇r-
: a connoisseur of cheese : a cheese fancier

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Why a Turophile Will Get Cheesy

Are you stuck on Stilton or gaga for Gouda? Do you crave Camembert? If so, you just might be a turophile, the ultimate cheese lover. From an irregular formation of the Greek word for cheese, tyros, plus the English -phile, meaning "lover" (itself a descendant of the Greek -philos, meaning "loving"), turophile first named cheese aficionados as early as 1938. It was in the 1950s, however, that the term really caught the attention of the American public, when Clifton Fadiman (writer, editor, and radio host) introduced turophile to readers of his eloquent musings on the subject of cheese.

Examples of turophile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Calling all turophiles: The NoMad Hotel is your next destination. Bridget Hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Jan. 2018 But the latest Asian beverage trend to hit L.A. could make a skeptic of even the most fervent turophile: cheese tea. Andrea Alonso, Los Angeles Magazine, 17 Jan. 2018 But as any turophile knows, microbes are the source of cheese’s vast diversity of flavors, textures, and smells. Time, 22 Sep. 2017 Connecticut's oldest winery is also a haven for turophiles. Leeanne Griffin, courant.com, 3 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'turophile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

irregular from Greek tyros cheese + English -phile — more at butter

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of turophile was in 1938

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Cite this Entry

“Turophile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turophile. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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