cook

¹

[ kook ]

verb (used with object)

1. to prepare (food) by the use of heat, as by boiling, baking, or roasting.
2. to subject (anything) to the application of heat.
3. Slang. to ruin; spoil.
4. to process (computer programming code or other digital data) for use in an executable file format.
5. Slang. to falsify, as accounts:

   to cook the expense figures.

verb (used without object)

1. to prepare food by the use of heat.
2. (of food) to undergo cooking.
3. Slang.
   1. to be full of activity and excitement:

      Las Vegas cooks around the clock.

   2. to perform, work, or do in just the right way and with energy and enthusiasm:

      That new drummer is really cooking tonight. Now you're cooking!

   3. to be in preparation; develop:

      Plans for the new factory have been cooking for several years.

   4. to take place; occur; happen:

      What's cooking at the club?

noun

1. a person who cooks:

   The restaurant hired a new cook.

verb phrase

1. Informal.
   1. to concoct or contrive, often dishonestly:

      She hastily cooked up an excuse.

   2. to falsify:

      Someone had obviously cooked up the alibi.

2. (of a shell or cartridge) to explode or fire without being triggered as a result of overheating in the chamber of the weapon.

cook

²

[ kook, kook ]

verb (used without object)

, Scot.

1. to hide, especially outdoors, as by crouching down behind a hedge.

Cook

³

[ kook ]

noun

1. Frederick Albert, 1865–1940, U.S. physician and polar explorer.
2. George Cram [jawrj, , kram], 1873–1924, U.S. novelist, dramatist, and poet.
3. Captain James, 1728–79, English navigator and explorer in the South Pacific and Southern Oceans, particularly in the areas of Australia and New Zealand.
4. Sir Joseph, 1860–1947, Australian statesman, born in England: prime minister of Australia 1913–14.
5. Mount Cook, a mountain in New Zealand, on South Island. 12,349 feet (3,764 meters). Also called A·o·ra·ki [ah-oh-, rah, -kee],

Cook

¹

/ kʊk /

noun

1. CookJames17281779MBritishTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: navigatorTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: explorer Captain James . 1728–79, British navigator and explorer: claimed the E coast of Australia for Britain, circumnavigated New Zealand, and discovered several Pacific and Atlantic islands (1768–79)
2. CookSir Joseph18601947MAustralianEnglishPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: prime minister Sir Joseph. 1860–1947, Australian statesman, born in England: prime minister of Australia (1913–14)
3. CookPeter (Edward)19371995MBritishTHEATRE: comedy actorWRITING: writer Peter ( Edward ). 1937–95, British comedy actor and writer, noted esp for his partnership (1960–73) with Dudley Moore
4. CookRobin19462005MBritishPOLITICS: politicianPOLITICS: statesman Robin, full name Robert Finlayson Cook . 1946–2005, British Labour politician; foreign secretary (1997–2001), Leader of the House (2001-2003)
5. CookThomas18081892MBritishBUSINESS: travel agent Thomas. 1808–92, British travel agent; innovator of conducted excursions and founder of the travel agents Thomas Cook and Son

Cook

²

/ kʊk /

noun

1. a mountain in New Zealand, in the South Island, in the Southern Alps: the highest peak in New Zealand. Height: reduced in 1991 by a rockfall from 3764 m (12 349 ft) to 3754 m (12 316 ft) Official nameAoraki-Mount Cook
2. a mountain in SE Alaska, in the St Elias Mountains. Height: 4194 m (13 760 ft)

cook

³

/ kʊk /

verb

1. to prepare (food) by the action of heat, as by boiling, baking, etc, or (of food) to become ready for eating through such a process culinary
2. to subject or be subjected to the action of intense heat

   the town cooked in the sun

3. slang.
   tr to alter or falsify (something, esp figures, accounts, etc)

   to cook the books

4. slang.
   tr to spoil or ruin (something)
5. slang.
   intr to happen (esp in the phrase what's cooking? )
6. slang.
   tr to prepare (any of several drugs) by heating
7. slang.
   intr music to play vigorously

   the band was cooking

8. cook someone's goose informal.
   1. to spoil a person's plans
   2. to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc

noun

1. a person who prepares food for eating, esp as an occupation

Derived Forms

• ˈcookable, adjective
• ˈcooking, noun

Other Words From

• cooka·ble adjective
• cookless adjective
• un·cooka·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cook¹

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English co(o)ke, Old English cōc (compare Old Norse kokkr, German Koch, Dutch kok ), from Latin cocus, coquus, derivative of coquere “to cook”; akin to Sanskrit pácati “(he) cooks, bakes, roasts,” Slavic ( Polish ) piec “to bake, roast,” Greek péssein, péptein “to boil, cook”; the verb is derivative of the noun

Origin of cook²

First recorded in 1780–90; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of cook¹

Old English cōc (n), from Latin coquus a cook, from coquere to cook

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. cook the books, Slang. to manipulate the financial records of a company, organization, etc., so as to conceal profits, avoid taxes, or present a false financial report to stockholders.
2. cook one's goose. goose ( def 11 ).

More idioms and phrases containing cook

• chief cook and bottlewasher
• short order (cook)
• too many cooks spoil the broth
• what's cooking

Example Sentences

Previous experiments using replicas of these trays and cooking structures similar to those found at archaeological sites from the studied period had already allowed researchers to hypothesize their function.

From Science Daily

A set of chemical reactions called Maillard browning helps develop the complex, rich flavor profiles of animal meats while they cook.

From Salon

Understanding the food and culinary science behind what you're cooking means you can make a few alterations to a recipe and still have a delicious dish that's not overloaded with sugar.

From Salon

However, this can also depend greatly on how the turkey is cooked, prepared and not just whether it was fresh or frozen.

From Salon

Thanksgiving comes with plenty of stressors, especially if you’re hosting and cooking up a feast yourself.

From Salon