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noun A1 Beginner Common

soup

soop
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Soup (noun) means a liquid dish made by cooking meat, vegetables, or other ingredients in stock or water. Example: “Grandad makes a big pot of vegetable soup every Sunday evening.”

noun
1
A liquid dish made by cooking meat, vegetables, or other ingredients in stock or water.
"Grandad makes a big pot of vegetable soup every Sunday evening."
"She warmed up a bowl of tomato soup for lunch."
"Chicken soup is his go-to comfort food when he's sick."
2
Informally, any thick or murky mixture, or a difficult situation.
"After days of rain, the football pitch had turned into a brown soup."
"The fog was so thick it was like driving through soup."
"He landed himself in the soup by missing the deadline."

How to use soup

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA cooked liquid dish, or loosely, any thick mixture or mess.

Common mistake

"In the soup" is an idiom meaning "in trouble" — not literal.

Common pairings
bowl of soup soup kitchen in the soup
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Word forms

Plural
soups
Third person singular
soups
Past tense
souped
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Grandad makes a big pot of vegetable _____ every Sunday evening.

Etymology

From Old French soupe ("sopped bread"), from Late Latin suppa, related to "sop" and "supper."

Origin: Late Latin

Related words

Rhymes for soup

See all rhymes for soup →

Frequently asked questions

What does “soup” mean?
The word “soup” means a liquid dish made by cooking meat, vegetables, or other ingredients in stock or water. In plain terms, a cooked liquid dish, or loosely, any thick mixture or mess.
How do you pronounce “soup”?
“Soup” is pronounced soop (/sup/ in IPA).
How do you use “soup” in a sentence?
Here is “soup” used in a sentence: “She warmed up a bowl of tomato soup for lunch.”
What part of speech is “soup”?
“Soup” is a noun.
Where does the word “soup” come from?
The word “soup” comes from Late Latin. From Old French soupe ("sopped bread"), from Late Latin suppa, related to "sop" and "supper.".
Is “soup” a common word?
“Soup” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “soup” have?
“Soup” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a liquid dish made by cooking meat, vegetables, or other ingredients in stock or water.
What is the difference between soup and broth?
Broth is a thin, clear savoury liquid made by simmering meat, bones, or vegetables. Soup is the broader dish and is often thicker, containing chunks of meat, vegetables, or other ingredients cooked in that liquid.
What is the difference between soup and stew?
Soup is more liquid and is usually eaten with a spoon, while a stew has much less liquid, larger chunks of ingredients, and is often eaten with a fork. Stews are generally cooked longer to thicken and concentrate the flavours.
What verbs commonly go with 'soup'?
Common collocations include 'make soup', 'heat up soup', and 'have a bowl of soup'. People also speak of 'canned soup', 'homemade soup', and 'soup of the day'.

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