cook

noun \ ˈku̇k \

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Examples: cook in a Sentence

Definition of cook

1 : a person who prepares food for eating

2 : a technical or industrial process comparable to cooking food; also : a substance so processed

See cook defined for English-language learners

See cook defined for kids

Examples of cook in a Sentence

the hearty meals prepared by the cook at summer camp

Recent Examples of cook from the Web

Add the garlic and rosemary and cook, stirring, until fragrant.

— adam ried, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipes: Switch it up with lamb burgers instead of beef," 13 July 2018
Add half the crab to skillet and cook, stirring often, until sauce thickens and flavors to develop, 5-7 minutes.

— osayi endolyn, WSJ, "Why Chefs Are Elevating Rice to Star Ingredient Status," 13 July 2018
That modesty is typical of the Chinese food world, where there’s a big difference between the gourmets (culinary scholars who propose recipes) and the cooks (the guys who actually execute those recipes).

— casey quackenbush / hong kong, Time, "'We're Not Educated.' The Untold Story of Lung King Heen, the World's First Michelin Three-Star Chinese Restaurant," 12 July 2018
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club has asked permission to hire 78 foreign workers to serve as cooks, waiters and housekeepers during this winter’s social season in Palm Beach, Fla., according to Labor Department data.

— tory newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: CFPB further under fire with Kavanaugh pick for Supreme Court," 11 July 2018
The company also posted job openings for cooks, dishwashers, facilities and maintenance technicians, and cleaning positions.

— jen fifield, azcentral, "Topgolf to hire 500 employees for Glendale location opening in September," 11 July 2018
Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly colored, 8 to 10 minutes.

— daniel neman, sacbee, "Artistry, flavor blends are marks of Moroccan," 10 July 2018
Reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, for 30 minutes.

— San Antonio Express-News, "Recipe: West African Pineapple Ginger Juice," 3 July 2018
Sometime that afternoon, too — coincidentally or not — two cooks, Thomas Harden and John McKean, wandered off into the woods and got lost.

— erik lacitis, The Seattle Times, "‘All indulged’: Puget Sound’s wildest Fourth of July party was its first one — in 1841," 3 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cook.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cook

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

cook Synonyms

Synonyms

chef, cooker;

Related Words

baker;

barbecuer, griller;

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

cook

verb

Definition of cook

cooked; cooking; cooks

intransitive verb

1 : to prepare food for eating especially by means of heat

French cooking

2 : to undergo the action of being cooked

the rice is cooking now

3 : occur, happen

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

transitive verb

1 : concoct, fabricate —usually used with up

cooked up a scheme

2 : to prepare for eating by a heating process

3 : falsify, doctor

cooked the books with phony spending cuts and accounting gimmickry
—Colleen O'Connor

4 : to subject to the action of heat or fire

—

cookable

play \ˈku̇-kə-bəl\ adjective

— cook one's goose

: to make one's failure or ruin certain

See cook defined for English-language learners

Examples of cook in a Sentence

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 of cook from the Web

In the 1920s, home economist Agnes White played Betty Crocker in a radio cooking show and advertising campaign.

— j. harry jones, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Small Valley Center history museum draws big crowds," 13 July 2018
Much Moroccan food is cooked slowly, methodically – even thoughtfully.

— daniel neman, sacbee, "Artistry, flavor blends are marks of Moroccan," 10 July 2018
Sabor has a full Mexican menu, too, but the Salvadoran specialties cooked by co-owner Ana Salazar, a native of Chalatenango in Northwest El Salvador, are the reason to come.

— craig laban, Philly.com, "Atlantic City restaurants: New casinos, diverse independent spots create rising culinary energy," 6 July 2018
The bird is cooked over high heat for 10 minutes to produce the bronzed, crisp skin while leaving the interior medium-rare.

— michael bauer, SFChronicle.com, "Sorrel off to a stellar start in Pacific Heights," 6 July 2018
Her assignment — both in 1995 and 2018 — was cooked up by Shannon and Van Swearingen.

— chris jones, chicagotribune.com, "Michael Shannon returns to the role he played in 1995 for Red Orchid's 25th season," 3 July 2018
Every burger at Flamme Burger, new to Keystone Commons shopping center, 8487 Union Chapel Road, near The Fashion Mall, is cooked over a live fire.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "This Indianapolis burger restaurant keeps winning best burger awards," 28 June 2018
Grill chicken until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes per side.

— the good housekeeping test kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Chicken and Red Plum Salad," 21 June 2018
This was thoughtful and genuinely fun stoner food—the sort of thing cooked up by a talented pastry chef with the munchies.

— marian bull, GQ, "Stoner Food Has Gotten Fully Baked," 7 June 2018

First Known Use of cook

14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

cook Synonyms

Cook

biographical name \ ˈku̇k \

Definition of Cook

James 1728–1779 English navigator and explorer

COOK Defined for English Language Learners

cook

noun

Definition of cook for English Language Learners

: someone who prepares and cooks food for eating at home, in a restaurant, etc.

cook

verb

Definition of cook for English Language Learners

: to prepare (food) for eating especially by using heat
: to go through the process of being cooked
: to happen or take place

COOK Defined for Kids

cook

noun \ ˈku̇k \

Definition of cook for Students

: a person who prepares food for eating

cook

verb

Definition of cook for Students

cooked; cooking

1 : to prepare food for eating by the use of heat

2 : to go through the process of being heated in preparation for being eaten

Dinner is cooking.

3 : to create through thought and imagination —usually used with up

The boys are cooking up a scheme to earn money.

Learn More about cook

See words that rhyme with cook Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cook Spanish Central: Translation of cook Nglish: Translation of cook for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cook for Arabic speakers

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cook

Definition of cook

Examples of cook in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of cook

cook Synonyms

Synonyms

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Other Food Terms

cook

Definition of cook

cookable

Examples of cook in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cook from the Web

First Known Use of cook

cook Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

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Cook

Definition of Cook

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Related Phrases

COOK Defined for English Language Learners

cook

Definition of cook for English Language Learners

cook

Definition of cook for English Language Learners

COOK Defined for Kids

cook

Definition of cook for Students

cook

Definition of cook for Students

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