cup

noun \ ˈkəp \

Definition of cup

1 :an open usually bowl-shaped drinking vessel

2 a :a drinking vessel and its contents

b :the consecrated wine of the Communion

3 :something that falls to one's lot

4 :an ornamental cup offered as a prize (as in a championship)

5 :something resembling a cup: such as

a :a cup-shaped plant organ

b :an athletic supporter reinforced usually with plastic to provide extra protection to the wearer

c :either of two parts of a brassiere that are shaped like and fit over the breasts

d :the metal case inside a hole in golf; also :the hole itself

6 :a usually iced beverage resembling punch but served from a pitcher rather than a bowl

7 :a half pint :eight fluid ounces

8 :a food served in a cup-shaped usually footed vessel

a fruit cup

9 :the symbol ∪ indicating the union of two sets — compare cap 7

—

cuplike

play \ˈkəp-ˌlīk\ adjective

— in one's cups

:drunk

See cup defined for English-language learners

See cup defined for kids

Examples of cup in a Sentence

Would you like another cup of tea?
The winner will take home the cup.

Recent Examples of cup from the Web

Measurements are taken right under the bust, and a few cup sizes are tested to find the winning fit.

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Best of LA: 92 of Our Favorite Things to Eat, Do, and Buy Right Now," 14 July 2017
An older Latino man in a car-dealership uniform checks his Apple watch while a clinic worker measures his dose of pink liquid methadone into a plastic cup.

— The Economist, "What would Hippocrates do?Most people addicted to opioids receive no treatment," 13 July 2017
Traditionally, the conversation about the daily news started over a cup of coffee at the kitchen table and continued in the office with your colleagues or over a beer with your friends.

— rob solomon, sandiegouniontribune.com, "GoFundMe CEO: Helping U-T readers who want to get more involved," 12 July 2017
Candy Blasts are ice cream in a cup blended with candy and other sweets.

— veronica hinke, chicagotribune.com, "Get the scoop on some of the Chicago area's most charming ice cream shops," 11 July 2017
Add rennet to remaining ¼ cup water and mix until dissolved.

— nancy miller, The Courier-Journal, "It may be fast-casual food, but Red Herring's menu 'isn't a joke'," 11 July 2017
Drinkware, white plastic cups with black goblet print—Kingston Ellis (R); kingstonellis.com.

— House Beautiful, "July/August 2017 Product Guide," 3 July 2017
That same cup of coffee that Lorelai and Rory existed on.

— danielle tullo, Cosmopolitan, "Luke from Gilmore Girls Is Starting His Own Coffee Brand," 29 June 2017
Little hands dipped into the water using cups and spoons to scoop it up and dump into funnels and water wheels.

— alice fabbre, Naperville Sun, "Children's museum makes a splash with 30th anniversary party," 24 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of cup

Middle English cuppe, from Old English, from Late Latin cuppa cup, alteration of Latin cupa tub — more at hive

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

cup Synonyms

Synonyms

mug

Related Words

beaker, blackjack, stein, tankard; chalice, goblet; demitasse, noggin; teacup

cup

verb

Definition of cup

cupped; cupping

transitive verb

1 :to treat by cupping

2 a :to curve into the shape of a cup

cupped his hands around his mouth

b :to place in or as if in a cup

See cup defined for English-language learners

Examples of cup in a Sentence

He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted at us.
I had to cup my hand to my ear in order to hear him.
He cupped his mouth with his hands and shouted at us.
I sat with my chin cupped in my hand.

Recent Examples of cup from the Web

Add 1 or 2 tablespoons grapefruit juice, 1 tablespoon cooled syrup, 1 / 4 cup gin and 1 / 2 cup tonic water.

— jeanmarie brownson, sacbee, "Depart from the usual this Labor Day," 29 Aug. 2017
Test each eye separately: Cup your hand over one eye while testing the other eye.

— lindsey murray, Good Housekeeping, "This Test Could Tell You If You Damaged Your Sight During the Eclipse," 23 Aug. 2017
The cost stems from travel involving acupuncture, massage, chiropractors and cupping specialists.

— bud shaw, cleveland.com, "Commissioning the next Cleveland Indians statue: Bud vs. Doug.," 4 Aug. 2017
Start in a staggered stance with your right foot back and your hands cupped in a clinch position at head level.

— jessica fecteau, PEOPLE.com, "Prep Your Body for Summer Music Festivals with This Mini Endurance Workout," 21 July 2017
Leftwich thinks that the twist might help cup the water in front of the sea lion and push it backwards so that the sea lion can shoot forwards, the same way a human does when swimming freestyle or breaststroke.

— kalila morsink, Smithsonian, "How Do Sea Lions Swim, Glide and Sometimes Even Nab Humans?," 30 June 2017
Add vinegar, zest, salt, and remaining ⅓ cup raw sugar to plums and toss to combine.

— Bon Appetit, "Plum-Rosemary-Crisp with Oat-Spelt Topping," 26 June 2017
Add ¾ cup hot water, saving ¼ cup to mix with cocoa.

— dawn mitchell, Indianapolis Star, "Cooking before Pinterest? Indy used "church-lady" cookbooks," 25 June 2017
Her hands cupped her very obviously pregnant belly.

— the washington post, AL.com, "Report: Singer Beyonce, rapper husband Jay Z welcome twins," 18 June 2017

First Known Use of cup

14th century

CUP Defined for English Language Learners

cup

noun

Definition of cup for English Language Learners

: a small round container that often has a handle and that is used for drinking liquids (such as tea and coffee)
: the liquid that is contained in a cup
: a unit of measurement that is used when you are cooking

cup

verb

Definition of cup for English Language Learners

: to curve (your hand) into the shape of a cup
: to put your hand in a curved shape around (something)

CUP Defined for Kids

cup

noun \ ˈkəp \

Definition of cup for Students

1 :a container to drink out of in the shape of a small bowl usually with a handle

2 :the contents of a small drinking container :cupful

I drank a cup of tea.

3 :a unit of measure that equals half a pint or eight fluid ounces

4 :a trophy in the shape of a cup with two handles

5 :something like a small bowl in shape or use

I picked her up in the cup of my hands …
—Jean Craighead George, My Side of the Mountain

cup

verb

Definition of cup for Students

cupped; cupping

1 :to curve the hand or hands into the shape of a small bowl

2 :to put the hands in a curved shape around

She cupped my face.

Medical Dictionary

cup

noun \ ˈkəp \

medical Definition of cup

1 :a usually open bowl-shaped drinking vessel often having a handle and a stem and base and sometimes a lid

2 :a drinking vessel and its contents :the beverage or food contained in a cup

a second cup of coffee

3 :something resembling a cup

invagination of the blastula to form a multilayered cellular cup

: as

a (1) :an athletic supporter reinforced for providing extra protection to the wearer in certain strenuous sports (as boxing, hockey, or football)

(2) :either of the two parts of a brassiere that are shaped like and fit over the breasts

b :a small bell-shaped glass formerly used in cupping

c :a cap of metal or plastic shaped like the femoral head and used in plastic reconstruction of the hip joint

cup

verb

medical Definition of cup

cupped; cupping

transitive verb

:to treat by cupping

intransitive verb

:to undergo or perform cupping

Learn More about cup

See words that rhyme with cup Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cup Spanish Central: Translation of cup Nglish: Translation of cup for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cup for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cup

Seen and Heard

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cup

Definition of cup

cuplike

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Examples of cup in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cup from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cup

cup Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

cup

Definition of cup

Examples of cup in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cup from the Web

First Known Use of cup

Phrases Related to CUP

Related Phrases

CUP Defined for English Language Learners

cup

Definition of cup for English Language Learners

cup

Definition of cup for English Language Learners

CUP Defined for Kids

cup

Definition of cup for Students

cup

Definition of cup for Students

Medical Dictionary

cup

medical Definition of cup

cup

medical Definition of cup

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