cooking

The word “cooking” means the activity or process of preparing food by heating it. In plain terms, the act of making food with heat, or (as an adjective) an ingredient meant only for use in recipes.

“Cooking” is pronounced KUU-kihng (/ˈkʊkɪŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “cooking” used in a sentence: “Cooking dinner for eight people takes some planning.”

Depending on how it is used, “cooking” can be a noun and an adjective.

“Cooking” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Cooking” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the activity or process of preparing food by heating it.

Baking is one type of cooking. Cooking is the broad activity of preparing food with heat by any method, from frying and boiling to grilling and roasting. Baking specifically uses the dry, surrounding heat of an oven, usually for breads, cakes, and pastries, and tends to demand precise measurements because it relies on chemistry to work.

Cooking methods fall into a few families. Dry-heat methods include roasting, baking, grilling, and frying. Moist-heat methods include boiling, steaming, poaching, and simmering. Some techniques, like braising, combine both. Each method changes a food's texture and flavour differently, which is why the same ingredient can taste worlds apart depending on how it's cooked.

Absolutely. Cooking is a practical skill that anyone can build with practice, not a talent you're born with. Start with a few simple recipes, learn the basic methods, and get comfortable with heat, timing, and seasoning. Mistakes are part of the process, and most cooks improve quickly once they cook regularly.

Cooking does more than improve taste. Heat kills harmful bacteria and parasites, making many foods safe to eat, and it breaks down tough fibres so nutrients are easier to digest and absorb. Cooking also unlocks flavour and aroma, and it sits at the heart of culture, tradition, and gathering people together.