cook

1 of 2

noun

ˈku̇k 

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

ˈku̇-kə-bəl 

adjective

Phrases

cook one's goose

: to make one's failure or ruin certain

Synonyms

Noun

• chef
• cooker
• culinarian

Verb

• bend
• color
• distort
• falsify
• fudge
• garble
• misinterpret
• misrelate
• misrepresent
• misstate
• pervert
• slant
• twist
• warp

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

Noun

Through its elaborate culinary retreats in the Kenyan bush, guests team up with an array of cooks to collect edible plants in a combination master class and gathering mission. —Vivian Song, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2025

Bacon Ranch: Prepare as directed, except cook 4 slices bacon until crisp; drain and crumble, reserving 1 Tbsp. —Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2025

Verb

Also, drivers for their homemade-food delivery service, Meals in a Pinch, encountered many single, older men who didn't get out, or cook. —Ashley Milne-Tyte, NPR, 24 Apr. 2025

Stir in the spinach (in batches, if necessary) and cook, tossing or stirring gently, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. —The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025

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

Phrases Containing cook

• cook cheese
• cook off
• cook one's goose
• cook someone's goose
• cook the books
• cook up
• line cook

Rhymes for cook

• book
• brook
• crook
• hook
• look
• mook
• nook
• rook
• shook
• snook
• stook
• took

Kids Definition

cook

1 of 2 noun

ˈku̇k 

: 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

ˈku̇k 

James 1728–1779 English navigator and explorer