cup
KUHP
Cup (noun) means a small open container, usually with a handle, used for drinking. Example: “She wrapped both hands around a warm cup of tea.”
noun
1
A small open container, usually with a handle, used for drinking.
"She wrapped both hands around a warm cup of tea."
"He knocked his coffee cup off the desk by accident."
"Please put your empty cup in the sink when you finish."
2
A unit of volume used in cooking, roughly 237 mL in the US.
"The recipe calls for two cups of flour."
"Add one cup of milk and stir until the batter is smooth."
"Measure half a cup of sugar into the bowl."
3
A trophy shaped like an oversized cup, or the competition it is awarded for.
"The team lifted the cup after a dramatic penalty shootout."
"Our village club won the cup for the first time this spring."
"Every summer, the school competes for the cup in a cricket tournament."
How to use cup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small drinking vessel — also used for a cooking measurement and, informally, for any trophy shaped like one.
Common pairings
a cup of coffee
measuring cup
win the cup
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Word forms
- Plural
- cups
- Third person singular
- cups
- Past tense
- cupped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wrapped both hands around a warm _____ of tea.
Etymology
From Old English cuppe and copp, both meaning "cup" or "vessel," ultimately from Latin cuppa/cupa ("tub, cask"). A distant relative of the word "coupe."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “cup” mean?
The word “cup” means a small open container, usually with a handle, used for drinking. In plain terms, a small drinking vessel — also used for a cooking measurement and, informally, for any trophy shaped like one.
How do you pronounce “cup”?
“Cup” is pronounced KUHP (/ˈkʌp/ in IPA).
How do you use “cup” in a sentence?
Here is “cup” used in a sentence: “She wrapped both hands around a warm cup of tea.”
What part of speech is “cup”?
“Cup” is a noun.
Where does the word “cup” come from?
The word “cup” comes from Latin. From Old English cuppe and copp, both meaning "cup" or "vessel," ultimately from Latin cuppa/cupa ("tub, cask"). A distant relative of the word "coupe.".
Is “cup” a common word?
“Cup” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “cup” have?
“Cup” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small open container, usually with a handle, used for drinking.
What is the difference between a cup and a mug?
A cup is smaller, often thinner, and frequently comes with a saucer, like a teacup or coffee cup. A mug is larger and sturdier, holds more, and is used mainly for hot drinks without a saucer. All mugs are cups in the broad sense, but not every cup is a mug.
What is the difference between a cup and a glass?
The main difference is material and design. A cup is typically ceramic, plastic, or paper and usually has a handle, suiting hot drinks. A glass is made of glass, has no handle, and is used for cold drinks like water or juice. Both are open containers for drinking.
How many ounces are in a cup?
Besides the drinking vessel, 'cup' is a unit of cooking measurement. One US cup equals 8 fluid ounces, about 237 millilitres. A metric cup is 250 millilitres, and an imperial cup is 10 imperial fluid ounces. Recipes rely on this standard cup rather than the size of any actual mug.
What are the types of cups?
Everyday types include the teacup and coffee cup, the paper or disposable cup, the plastic cup, and the measuring cup used in cooking. There are also specialised ones like the sippy cup for toddlers and the trophy cup awarded in sports. Each shares the basic open, drinkable-from design.
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