cup

1 of 2

noun

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 sense 7
cuplike adjective

cup

2 of 2

verb

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
Phrases
in one's cups
: drunk

Examples of cup in a Sentence

Noun Would you like another cup of tea? The winner will take home the cup. Verb 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 on the Web
Noun
Recommended for ages 6 months and up, the eight cups will provide lots of fun. Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 Next thing, the girls are sitting cross legged on the floor in the corner of the small shop, each with a cup of steaming cocoa and between them a basket of soft, bright-eyed kittens. Marni Jameson, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2024 How did the big cup go from hydrating service members to becoming a status symbol? Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 The cups provide a natural lift, while the U-shape design is perfect for super-low tops. Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 7 Mar. 2024 The pair then stood up and lifted their beers to the sky before clinking their cups. Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Drinks are served in Station 3’s compostable cups — Nelson said the team wants to reduce waste as much as possible. Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Some — but not all — of the dipping cups labeled as containing Polynesian sauce in fact contained Sriracha sauce, which contains wheat and soy, according to the company. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024 The whole store is bear-themed, with both the plastic cups and the baristas wearing bear ears. The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Whether young man or mom, the gesture puts the palm of his or her right hand up against the head, cupping the cheek. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The bowl cupped a spherical cloud of iron that acted as a radiator for the waste heat emitted by Paradise’s quadrillions of computing modules. Karl Schroeder, IEEE Spectrum, 24 Feb. 2024 My answers, along with a check of my pulse, form the basis of my treatment itinerary, which includes daily four-hand oil massages, acupuncture, and sessions devoted to cupping, yogic posture, breath work, and meditation. Prasad Ramamurthy, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024 No one would ever again cup Theo as tenderly as that girl had. Addie Citchens, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 Just before tipoff, in a nightly ritual of preparation, Jokić cupped his hands and blew into them, a musician tuning his instrument. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 The front portion was blown out straight and tucked behind her ear, with the ends gently cupping her jawline. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023 The triple threat's hair now hits just below her ear, gently cupping her jawline. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Jan. 2024 Tradition called for three varieties of fish, three types of bread with salt, on this day cupped in the base of an old water bottle. Kamila Hrabchuk, Washington Post, 25 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near cup

Cite this Entry

“Cup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cup. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cup

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: something to drink out of in the shape of a bowl usually with a handle
a coffee cup
b
: a similar container used to measure amounts (as in cooking)
a measuring cup
2
a
: the contents of a cup : cupful
drank two cups of cocoa
b
: a half pint : eight fluid ounces (about 237 milliliters)
3
: a large ornamental cup offered as a prize
4
: something (as the corolla of a flower) resembling a cup
5
: a food served in a cup-shaped container
fruit cup
cuplike adjective

cup

2 of 2 verb
cupped; cupping
1
: to curve into the shape of a cup
cupped his hands around his mouth
2
: to place in or as if in a cup
cupped her mouth with her hands

Medical Definition

cup

1 of 2 noun
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

2 of 2 verb
cupped; cupping

transitive verb

: to treat by cupping

intransitive verb

: to undergo or perform cupping

More from Merriam-Webster on cup

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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