kitchen
KIHCHN
Kitchen (noun) means a room used for preparing and cooking food. Example: “They renovated the kitchen with new cabinets and a bigger fridge.”
noun
1
A room used for preparing and cooking food.
"They renovated the kitchen with new cabinets and a bigger fridge."
"The smell of fresh bread filled the kitchen."
"Dinner is almost ready, so please come and help set the table in the kitchen."
2
A particular style or tradition of cooking.
"She studied Italian kitchen in Rome before opening her own café."
"Thai kitchen relies on a balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavours."
"The restaurant blends French kitchen with local Caribbean flavours."
How to use kitchen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe room where food is cooked, or by extension a style of cooking.
Common pairings
kitchen sink
open-plan kitchen
run a kitchen
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Word forms
- Plural
- kitchens
- Third person singular
- kitchens
- Past tense
- kitchened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They renovated the _____ with new cabinets and a bigger fridge.
Etymology
From Old English cycene, itself borrowed from Latin coquina, "kitchen," which comes from coquere, "to cook." The Latin root also gave English the separate word "cuisine," which arrived later through French and is used more for the style of cooking than the room itself.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “kitchen” mean?
The word “kitchen” means a room used for preparing and cooking food. In plain terms, the room where food is cooked, or by extension a style of cooking.
How do you pronounce “kitchen”?
“Kitchen” is pronounced KIHCHN (/ˈkɪt͡ʃ(ə)n/ in IPA).
How do you use “kitchen” in a sentence?
Here is “kitchen” used in a sentence: “They renovated the kitchen with new cabinets and a bigger fridge.”
What part of speech is “kitchen”?
“Kitchen” is a noun.
Where does the word “kitchen” come from?
The word “kitchen” comes from Latin.
Is “kitchen” a common word?
“Kitchen” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “kitchen” have?
“Kitchen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a room used for preparing and cooking food.
What are the main types of kitchen layout?
Common kitchen layouts are named after their shape. A galley kitchen has two parallel runs of units; an L-shaped kitchen wraps around two walls; and a U-shaped kitchen uses three. Island and peninsula kitchens add a freestanding or attached counter, while an open-plan kitchen flows into the living space.
What is the difference between a kitchen and a kitchenette?
A kitchen is a full room fitted for preparing and cooking food, with space for an oven, sink, storage, and worktops. A kitchenette is a small, compact version — often just a sink, a fridge, and a hotplate or microwave — found in studio flats, offices, or hotel rooms.
Why is the kitchen important in a home?
The kitchen is where meals are prepared, so it is central to daily nourishment and health. It is also a social hub where families gather, guests linger, and cooking becomes a shared activity. Because it strongly influences how a home functions and feels, a good kitchen often adds notable value to a property.
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