cup
noun
\ ˈkəp
\
\
Definition of cup
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: an open usually bowl-shaped drinking vessel
2a
: 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
in one's cups
: drunk
cup
verb
cupped;
cupping
Definition of cup (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to treat by cupping
2a
: to curve into the shape of a cup
cupped his hands around his mouth
b
: to place in or as if in a cup
Keep scrolling for more
Other Words from cup
Noun
cuplike
\ ˈkəp-ˌlīk
\
adjective
\
adjective
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
Attorney Kia Hayes hoped for DNA testing of that cup, but investigators never collected it. — CBS News, "How faulty eyewitness testimony can lead to wrongful convictions," 9 Sep. 2019 Via was made with 100% Arabica beans, cost less than $1 per cup and appealed to people on the go. — Los Angeles Times, "Instant coffee is back, and snobs are paying $3.25 a cup," 7 Sep. 2019 To begin layering casserole, cover the bottom of the baking dish with a ¼ cup enchilada sauce. — Darlene Zimmerman, Detroit Free Press, "Black Bean and Corn Enchilada Casserole: Fiber rich and vegetarian," 7 Sep. 2019 Sprinkle gelatin over 1/4 cup cold water in a bowl to soften. — Tara Bench, Country Living, "Marshmallow Ghost Brownies," 6 Sep. 2019 Prepare the winter vegetable bed by incorporating 2 inches of compost and 10 cups of slow-release lawn fertilizer for every 100 square feet of bed prior to planting broccoli, cabbage, kale, carrots, lettuce and beets in September. — Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, "Now is the time to spread wildflower seed in your San Antonio garden," 6 Sep. 2019 Use a coupon to get the free 24-ounce insulated cup with lid with a $50 liquor purchase. — Doreen Christensen, sun-sentinel.com, "Free $20 Miami Dolphins Tervis tumbler at Publix," 6 Sep. 2019 The drinks will be served in recyclable aluminum cups made by the Ball Corporation. — Jon Wilner, The Denver Post, "Pac-12 need-to-knows: UCLA under pressure, injury updates, WSU feels the TV squeeze and Colorado trashes plastic," 6 Sep. 2019 While the amount of caffeine can vary widely in coffee, one 8-oz. cup shouldn’t contain much more than the 100-mg limit the AAP recommends. — Markham Heid, Time, "Should Parents Worry About Kids Drinking Coffee?," 5 Sep. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
There were two voice lessons and two physical-therapy sessions each week, cupping treatments, zinc and oregano supplements, and other cures. — Vogue, "Ben Platt on His Next Act: A Star Turn in Ryan Murphy's The Politician," 20 Aug. 2019 While at their table, Mendes, 21, was photographed cupping Cabello’s face as the two shared a steamy makeout session. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes Pack on the PDA and Share a Kiss During Their Date in Montreal," 20 Aug. 2019 Cherney also raised the grand champion market lamb and positioned her beautiful animal in front of the crowd, smoothing the white fur on its back, and cupping its head as the creature occasionally bleated. — Meg Jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Gov. Tony Evers sells his first livestock at State Fair auction," 7 Aug. 2019 When handling frogs they should be cupped around the body by one hand and supported beneath by the other. — Iris Katz, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Pet Wise: Can reptiles and amphibians make good pets?," 20 July 2019 All along the wall the aunts are restive, some straining to listen, leaning forward, cupping a paw to an ear. — Anne Carson, Harper's magazine, "From a manuscript in progress. Carson’s collection of performance pieces," 10 June 2019 Goblet Squat Stand tall, with your feet just wider than shoulder width apart, and hold a dumbbell vertically against the front of your chest, with both hands cupping the top end of the weight and your elbows pointing down. — K. Aleisha Fetters, Outside Online, "The Beginner's Guide to Weight Lifting," 19 June 2019 Just had to ask • If baseball really wants to speed things up, why doesn’t MLB put its players on a scratch, spit and cup-adjustment count? — Dwight Perry / Sideline Chatter, The Seattle Times, "Sideline Chatter: But as Mars Blackmon taught us, ‘It’s gotta be the shoes’," 18 May 2019 Transfer to a shallow bowl and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup pistachios. — Christopher Kimball, BostonGlobe.com, "Recipes: Three new ways to love grains," 9 July 2019These 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.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for cup
cup
noun
English Language Learners Definition of cup
(Entry 1 of 2)
: 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
US
: a unit of measurement that is used when you are cooking
cup
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of cup (Entry 2 of 2)
: to curve (your hand) into the shape of a cup
: to put your hand in a curved shape around (something)