cook

1 of 2

noun

1
: a person who prepares food for eating
2
: a technical or industrial process comparable to cooking food
also : a substance so processed

cook

2 of 2

verb

cooked; cooking; cooks

transitive verb

1
: to prepare (food) for eating by a heating process
Cook the vegetables over low heat for 10 minutes.
The fish was cooked in a wine sauce.
He cooked dinner for his guests.
2
: concoct, fabricate
usually used with up
cooked up a scheme
3
: to alter (something, such as records) with the intention of deceiving or misleading : falsify, doctor
The point is that every country's numbers are the result of a specific set of testing and accounting regimes. Everyone is cooking the data, one way or another.Alexis C. Madrigal
see also cook the books
4
: to subject (something) to the action of heat or fire during preparation
Agents discovered a recipe for cooking meth at his lab …Andrew E. Serwer

intransitive verb

1
: to prepare food for eating especially by means of heat
We're too busy to cook tonight.
I enjoy cooking for friends.
2
: to undergo the action of being cooked
The rice is cooking now.
3
: occur, happen
She tried to find out what was cooking in the committee.
4
: to perform, do, or proceed well
The jazz quartet was cooking along.
The party cooked right through the night.
cookable adjective
Phrases
cook one's goose
: to make one's failure or ruin certain

Examples of cook in a Sentence

Noun the hearty meals prepared by the cook at summer camp Verb Cook the onions over low heat. She cooked a great meal. The fish was cooked in a white wine sauce. Carrots can be cooked, but they are often eaten raw. We're too busy to cook at home. He enjoys cooking on the weekends. The rice is still cooking, but it will be ready in 10 minutes. There's something cooking, but he won't say what.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The agency stated that reassigning employees to remaining facilities is expected to improve staff retention and reduce both mandatory overtime and augmentation—a controversial practice where non-security personnel, such as cooks, teachers and nurses, are tasked with guarding inmates. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024 Add the onion and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until soft. Robin Miller, The Arizona Republic, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
The agency also states to cook poultry, eggs and beef to a safe internal temperature in order to kill bacteria and viruses. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024 With the pan about six inches from the source of heat, cook the meatballs until browned. Nicole Hopper, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cook 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English cōc, from Latin coquus, from coquere to cook; akin to Old English āfigen fried, Greek pessein to cook

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cook was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near cook

Cite this Entry

“Cook.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cook. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

cook

1 of 2 noun
: one who prepares food for eating

cook

2 of 2 verb
1
: to prepare food for eating especially by the use of heat
2
: to go through the process of being cooked
the rice is cooking now
3
a
: to think up
cook up a scheme
b
: to go on : happen
what's cooking
Etymology

Noun

Old English cōc "person who prepares food," from Latin coquus (same meaning), from coquere "to cook" — related to kitchen see Word History at kitchen

Biographical Definition

Cook

biographical name

James 1728–1779 English navigator and explorer

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