1. a hard, dry Italian cheese made from cow's milk, typically grated and used as a topping or ingredient in cooking
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the protected designation of origin (Parmigiano-Reggiano); commonly used in grated form

Examples

• She sprinkled parmesan over her pasta.
• The recipe calls for freshly grated parmesan cheese.
• Parmesan is a staple ingredient in Italian cooking.
• He ordered chicken parmesan for dinner.
• The salad was topped with shaved parmesan.
• Authentic parmesan comes from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.