cook

Less common meanings

5. 5
   do greatverbslanghumorousintransitive

   To be doing something very well and with lots of energy, like a band or a sports team at its best.

   After a slow start, Maya is cooking now. She has won her last four chess games.

   Once our team starts to cook, nobody can stop us.

   UsageSay now we're cooking! when things go well.

   Similarrock, roll, sizzle

   Oppositestruggle, sputter, stall

   Note
6. 6
   verbslangtransitive

   To beat or embarrass someone badly, or leave them with no chance, as in 'we're cooked'.

   The other team is so good that they will cook us.

   If we miss the last bus tonight, we're cooked.

   Similarbeat, destroy, burn, torch

   Note
7. 7
   fake figuresverbslangtransitive

   To change numbers or records in a dishonest way.

   The manager cooked the numbers to hide the missing money.

   You cannot cook the results and expect no one to notice.

   UsageSay cook the books.

   Similarfalsify, doctor, fiddle, fudge, rig

   Note
8. 8
   ruin by heatverbslangtransitive

   To kill someone or ruin something with too much heat or radiation.

   I cooked my phone by leaving it in the hot car.

   Too much power can cook the battery.

   Similarfry, destroy, burn

   Note
9. 9
   feel too hotverbfigurativelyintransitive

   To feel very hot and uncomfortable.

   Like sitting inside a hot oven.

   We were cooking in the car with no air conditioning.

   You'll cook out there without a hat in this sun.

   UsageSay I'm cooking in this heat.

   Similarbake, stew

   Oppositefreeze

10. 10
    drug makernounslangcountable

    A person who makes illegal drugs, especially meth.

    The police arrested the cook when they found the drug lab.

    The gang needed a new cook after the lab fire.

    UsageSay a meth cook.

    Note
11. 11
    nounslangcountable

    One time when someone makes illegal drugs, especially meth.

    They planned the next cook for midnight, when no one would notice the smell.

    Each cook took a whole night in the hidden lab.

    Note
12. 12
    nouncountable

    How done a piece of food is, like meat that is rare or well-done.

    Like toast that can be light, golden, or dark: food can be done a little or a lot.

    The steak had a perfect cook: pink in the middle and browned on the outside.

    Check the cook on those eggs before you serve them.

    UsageSay a perfect cook on a steak.

    Similardoneness

    Note
13. 13
    follow a thoughtverbslanghumorousintransitive

    To follow an idea or plan to see where it goes, as in 'let him cook', even if it gets strange.

    Wait, let him cook. He might be onto something.

    Her idea sounded strange, but we let her cook to see where it would go.

    Note
14. 14
    electric chairverbslangtransitive

    To kill a prisoner with the electric chair.

    The old prisoner joked that the warden wanted to cook him in the electric chair.

    'They cooked my cellmate in the electric chair,' he said quietly.

    Similarfry

    Note
15. 15
    grenadeverbslangtransitive

    To hold a grenade for a moment after starting the fuse, so it explodes right after you throw it.

    The soldier cooked the grenade for two seconds before throwing it through the window.

    In the game, you can cook a grenade so enemies have no time to get away.

    Note
16. 16
    cuckoo callverbobsoleteintransitive

    To make the call of the cuckoo bird.

    Constant cuckoos cook on every side.

    1599, Thomas Moffet, The SilkwormesHere, cook means to make the cuckoo's two-note call.

    Note
17. 17
    verb

    In a video game, to heat rocks or metal in a furnace to turn them into useful materials.
18. 18
    noun

    A way to solve a chess puzzle that its maker did not plan, which ruins the puzzle.
19. 19
    noun

    A sea fish with bright stripes that lives near the coasts of Europe.
20. 20
    verbdialectalUK

    To throw something, such as a stone or a rope.

    Cook. To throw. Cook me that ball, throw me that ball. Glou.

    1787, Francis Grose, A Provincial Glossary: With a Collection of Local ProverbsHere, cook means to throw.