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 of cup

Noun

• mug
• goblet

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

Bundle up this holiday season with this Vitamix set that includes the classic Explorian E310 blender, a personal cup adapter, and two 20-ounce blending cups that are ideal for tackling smaller jobs as well as making juices, shakes, and smoothies. —Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Nov. 2025

The 24-ounce Hydro Flask fits easily into cup holders and backpack pockets but still packs plenty of room for hydration. —Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 25 Nov. 2025

Verb

Feeling the woman cupping his private area, the artist kneeled down and appeared to scold her, telling her to stop. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 25 Nov. 2025

Bhutto cupped the crowd in his hands and shook them and filled them with his invective, until finally the young blades who had been bused in from near and far lost all restraint and began throwing chairs and charging the police and were lathi-charged in return. —Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025

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

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

Rhymes for cup

• pup
• sup
• up
• yup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup

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