cup

[ kuhp ]

noun

1. a small, open container made of china, glass, metal, paper, plastic, etc., sometimes having a handle and used chiefly as a receptacle from which to drink hot or cold beverages, soup, etc.
2. the bowllike part of a goblet or the like.
3. a cup with its contents:

   You look exhausted—go sit down and I'll bring you a cup of tea.

4. the quantity contained in a cup:

   He drank a cup of water before bed.

5. a unit of capacity, equal to 8 fluid ounces (237 milliliters) or 16 tablespoons; half-pint.
6. an ornamental bowl, vase, etc., especially of precious metal, offered as a prize for a contest.
7. any of various beverages, such as a mixture of wine and other ingredients:

   claret cup.

8. the chalice used in the Eucharist.
9. the wine of the Eucharist.
10. something to be partaken of or endured; one's portion, as of joy or suffering.
11. any cuplike utensil, organ, part, cavity, etc.
12. either of the two forms that cover and usually support the breasts in a bra or other garment, such as a bathing suit.
13. an athletic supporter reinforced with rigid plastic or metal for added protection.
14. Golf.
    1. the metal receptacle within the hole.
    2. the hole itself.
15. Cup, Astronomy. the constellation Crater.
16. cupping glass ( def ).
17. Metalworking. a cylindrical shell closed at one end, especially one produced in the first stages of a deep-drawing operation.
18. Mathematics. the cuplike symbol ∪, used to indicate the union of two sets. Compare union ( def 10a ).
19. cups, Archaic. the drinking of intoxicating liquors.

verb (used with object)

, cupped, cup·ping.

1. to take or place in, or as in, a cup:

   He cupped his ear with the palm of his hand.

2. to form into a cuplike shape:

   He cupped his hands.

3. to use a cupping glass on.
4. Metalworking. to form (tubing, containers, etc.) by punching hot strip or sheet metal and drawing it through a die. Compare deep-draw.

cup

/ kʌp /

noun

1. a small open container, usually having one handle, used for drinking from
2. the contents of such a container

   that cup was too sweet

3. Also calledteacupcupful a unit of capacity used in cooking equal to approximately half a pint, 8 fluid ounces, or about one quarter of a litre
4. something resembling a cup in shape or function, such as the flower base of some plants of the rose family or a cuplike bodily organ
5. either of two cup-shaped parts of a brassiere, designed to support the breasts
6. a cup-shaped trophy awarded as a prize
7. 1. a sporting contest in which a cup is awarded to the winner
   2. ( as modifier )

      a cup competition

8. a mixed drink with one ingredient as a base, usually served from a bowl

   claret cup

9. golf the hole or metal container in the hole on a green
10. the chalice or the consecrated wine used in the Eucharist
11. one's lot in life
12. in one's cups
    drunk
13. one's cup of tea informal.
    one's chosen or preferred thing, task, company, etc

    she's not my cup of tea

verb

1. to form (something, such as the hands) into the shape of a cup
2. to put into or as if into a cup
3. archaic.
   to draw blood to the surface of the body of (a person) by using a cupping glass

Derived Forms

• ˈcupˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• cuplike adjective
• under·cup noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cup¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English cuppe, from Latin cuppa, variant of cūpa “cask, tub,” apparently akin to Greek kýpellon “goblet,” Sanskrit kūpa- “hole, vessel, well”

Word History and Origins

Origin of cup¹

Old English cuppe, from Late Latin cuppa cup, alteration of Latin cūpa cask

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in one's cups, intoxicated; drunk.

More idioms and phrases containing cup

In addition to the idiom beginning with cup , also see in one's cups .

Example Sentences

The tasks included determining the logical order of two statements, or answering questions involving physical reasoning, such as how to separate an egg white from a yolk or how to make a cup of tea.

From Science Daily

In Germany, the vast majority of schools, daycares and universities use reusable plates, cutlery and cups, which are washed daily by teachers or kitchen staff for use the following day.

From Salon

Shape-based nouns are words like "chair" or "cup" that describe a category of objects based on their shape, rather than other characteristics such as color or material.

From Science Daily

Yoakam cupped his free hand around the bottom of the phone to help amplify the sound.

From Los Angeles Times

The collection also includes a chicken cup used to serve wine for the Chenghua emperor and Ru wares made for the Northern Song dynasty court around 1086.

From BBC

Related Words

• bowl
• drink
• mug