cup

1 of 2

noun

ˈkəp 

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

ˈkəp-ˌlīk 

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

Synonyms

Noun

• mug

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

Dairy is just as important in adulthood, but about 90% of Americans aren’t meeting the recommendation of three cups per day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 14 Apr. 2024

Krups Simply Brew Stainless Steel Drip Coffee Maker $60 $47 With the press of one button, this coffee maker brews up to 10 cups of fresh joe. —Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2024

My husband, Frank, enjoyed one with a cup of English tea. —Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 13 Apr. 2024

The dress featured black cups poking out at the top to maximize the bombshell effect. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024

On social networks, soldiers have posted videos of themselves pouring hot water into drip coffee bags placed on iron cups before savoring the steaming drink in a log trench. —Daria Mitiuk Brendan Hoffman, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024

The coffee machine can brew a cup with a coffee pod or an entire carafe from coffee grounds. —Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2024

There are a lot of whiskey fans out there who wouldn’t think twice about spending a thousand bucks on a bottle, but how about a cup? —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024

Whisk together oil, 5 tablespoons of the lemon juice, and ½ cup of the Greek yogurt in a separate bowl until smooth; set both bowls aside. —Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024

Verb

In an Instagram post from Trudy Lines Tattoo shared Monday, Hemsworth can be seen holding Damon's hand with one hand and cupping his head in the other. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2024

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

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

Phrases Containing cup

• fruit cup
• suction cup
• cup of tea
• loving cup
• go cup
• in the cup of someone's hand
• painted cup
• measuring cup
• optic cup
• cup fungus
• someone's cup of tea
• sippy cup
• stirrup cup

Kids Definition

cup

1 of 2 noun

ˈkəp 

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

ˈkəp 

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