noun
Common
baking
BAY-kihng
Baking (noun) means the activity of cooking food, especially bread, cakes, or pastries, using dry heat in an oven. Example: “My brother does the baking at the weekend, so the house smells of bread.”
noun
1
The activity of cooking food, especially bread, cakes, or pastries, using dry heat in an oven.
"My brother does the baking at the weekend, so the house smells of bread."
"Baking is her favourite way to relax after a stressful week."
"The recipe calls for thirty minutes of baking at a low temperature."
adj
1
Extremely hot, as if being cooked in an oven.
"The pavement was baking, so the dog refused to walk on it."
"We sat in the shade, because the baking sun was too much."
"It was a baking afternoon, with barely a breath of wind."
How to use baking
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMaking food in an oven, or (informally) describing very hot weather.
Common pairings
baking tray
baking heat
home baking
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Word forms
- Plural
- bakings
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My brother does the _____ at the weekend, so the house smells of bread.
Etymology
From Middle English bakynge, formed from bake plus the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for baking
See all rhymes for baking →Frequently asked questions
What does “baking” mean?
The word “baking” means the activity of cooking food, especially bread, cakes, or pastries, using dry heat in an oven. In plain terms, making food in an oven, or (informally) describing very hot weather.
How do you pronounce “baking”?
“Baking” is pronounced BAY-kihng (/ˈbeɪkɪŋ(ɡ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “baking” in a sentence?
Here is “baking” used in a sentence: “Baking is her favourite way to relax after a stressful week.”
What part of speech is “baking”?
Depending on how it is used, “baking” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “baking” come from?
The word “baking” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bakynge, formed from bake plus the suffix -ing.
Is “baking” a common word?
“Baking” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “baking” have?
“Baking” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the activity of cooking food, especially bread, cakes, or pastries, using dry heat in an oven.
What is the difference between 'baking' and 'cooking'?
'Cooking' is the general term for preparing food with heat by any method. 'Baking' is one specific method, using the dry heat of an oven, and is used especially for breads, cakes, and pastries.
What is the difference between 'baking' and 'roasting'?
Both use the dry heat of an oven. 'Roasting' typically means cooking meats or vegetables at higher temperatures to brown them, while 'baking' is generally used for doughs, batters, and dishes cooked at gentler temperatures.
What is the difference between 'baking soda' and 'baking powder'?
Both are leavening agents that help baked goods rise. Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate and needs an acidic ingredient to activate it, while baking powder already contains baking soda plus a dry acid, so it activates with just moisture and heat.
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