curd

1 of 2

noun

ˈkərd 

1

: the thick casein-rich part of coagulated milk

2

: something suggesting the curd of milk

curdy

ˈkər-dē 

adjective

curd

2 of 2

verb

curded; curding; curds

: coagulate, curdle

Examples of curd in a Sentence

Noun

The curds have separated from the whey.

The curd has separated from the whey.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What Is Hoop Cheese? Hoop cheese is a cow’s milk cheese that’s made by a simple method of separating curds and whey. —Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025

That includes a collection of new sandwiches, a vegetable couscous salad, a patty melt and loaded brisket cheese curds, among others. —Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025

It was historically processed using rennet, an enzyme used in cheese production that separates the milk's curds from its whey.29 Like Greek yogurt, modern production of skyr involves fermenting the milk with Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. —Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 3 Feb. 2025

Also in the top are two more straightforward takes on poutine, fittingly from Montreal Massimo and Kat, who grew up in Wisconsin and wasn’t about to mess up cheese curds. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English crud, curd (usually in plural cruddes, croddes, curddys) "coagulated milk, any thickened substance, dregs, lees," probably noun derivative of crudden, curdden "to curdle or make curdle (of milk), coagulate, congeal" — more at crud entry 2Though sparsely attested in Middle English, the metathesized variant curd is now standard in reference to a milk product, with crud, crood, etc., dialectal or regional in the British Isles (compare crowdie). An offshoot of British crud is North American crud entry 1.

Verb

Middle English curdden, metathetic variant of crudden — more at crud entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing curd

• bean curd
• lemon curd

Rhymes for curd

• blurred
• burd
• curred
• furred
• gerd
• gird
• herd
• kurd
• nerd
• purred
• sherd
• slurred

Kids Definition

curd

noun

ˈkərd

1

: the thickened or solid part of sour or partly digested milk compare whey

2

: something resembling the curd of milk

curdy

-ē

adjective

Medical Definition

curd

noun

ˈkərd 

: the thick casein-rich part of coagulated milk

curdy

-ē 

adjective