cheshire

IPA/ˈtʃeʃ.ər/
KK[tʃˈɛʃɚ]IPA/ˈtʃeʃ.ɚ/

cheshire — noun

1. a county in northwestern England that lies between the cities of Liverpool and M

1.nounB2
Definition

a county in northwestern England that lies between the cities of Liverpool and Manchester, known for its rural countryside, historic market towns, and the medieval city of Chester.

Example

The Watanabe family rented a stone cottage in Cheshire for the summer holidays.

Cheshire is famous for its black-and-white timbered houses and the local cheese called Cheshire cheese.

proper noun + attributive noun: 'Cheshire cheese'

Common collocations
  • Cheshire cheese
  • Cheshire countryside
  • county of Cheshire
  • in Cheshire

Usage Note

Often used attributively before a noun, as in 'Cheshire cheese' or 'Cheshire countryside'.

Common Mistakes

I visited Cheshire cat yesterday.
I visited Cheshire yesterday.
'Cheshire cat' is a fictional character; the place name alone is 'Cheshire'.

2. a town in south-central Connecticut, United States, located near the city of New

2.nounB2
Definition

a town in south-central Connecticut, United States, located near the city of New Haven and known for its suburban residential character and public schools.

Example

Kofi moved his family to Cheshire, Connecticut, for the quieter lifestyle.

The public library in Cheshire runs a popular summer reading programme for children.

place + institution: 'the public library in Cheshire'

Common collocations
  • Cheshire, Connecticut
  • town of Cheshire
  • in Cheshire

Usage Note

Always include 'Connecticut' after 'Cheshire' on first mention to avoid confusion with the English county.

3. a former administrative county in northwestern England that was created in 1974

3.nounC1
Definition

a former administrative county in northwestern England that was created in 1974 and abolished in 2009, at which time its area was divided into several smaller local-government districts.

Example

The former county of Cheshire was split into four separate council areas in 2009.

historical context: 'the former county of Cheshire'

Diya read that the old county of Cheshire once included the Wirral peninsula.

Common collocations
  • former county of Cheshire
  • historic Cheshire
  • old Cheshire

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: this refers specifically to the local-government entity that existed between 1974 and 2009, not the broader historic county or ceremonial county of the same name.

Word family

  • Chester
    nounB2
  • Cestrian
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Shropshire are all historic counties in northern England. Cheshire lies between Liverpool and Manchester and is known for its dairy farming and the city of Chester. Lancashire, to the north, is associated with the Industrial Revolution and the seaside resort of Blackpool. Yorkshire, the largest, covers a vast area of moors, dales, and industrial cities such as Leeds and Sheffield. Shropshire, west of Cheshire, is more rural and less populated, with the historic town of Shrewsbury as its centre. In everyday speech, someone might say 'I'm from Cheshire' to identify their home county, whereas 'I'm from Yorkshire' carries a stronger regional identity and cultural pride.

Cheshire ↗Lancashire ↗YorkshireShropshire

Common collocations

Nouns

  • county of Cheshire
  • town of Cheshire
  • Cheshire countryside
  • Cheshire cheese

Phrases

  • the former county of Cheshire
  • Cheshire, Connecticut

Prepositions

  • in Cheshire
  • from Cheshire
  • to Cheshire

Etymology

LatinOld EnglishEnglish

The name 'Cheshire' comes from the Old English name 'Leofric's shire' — eventually shortened from 'Chesterscire' (the shire of the city of Chester). Chester itself comes from the Latin 'castra', meaning a military camp or fort. The name has been used for the historic county since at least the 10th century. The town in Connecticut was named after the English county by early settlers.