cup

KUP/kʌp/

Pluralcups

22 meanings of cup

1
drinking containernouncountable
A small round container, usually with a handle, used for drinking.
Like a small bowl with a handle, made just for drinking.
Grandma keeps her favorite cup on the top shelf.
He filled the cup with warm milk.
UsageA teacup is the container; a cup of tea means the drink in it.
2
drink insidenouncountable
The amount of drink that a cup holds.
I finished my cup and asked for more.
She drank a cup of cocoa before bed.
UsageSay a cup of tea.
Similarcupful
3
US measurenouncountable
An amount used in recipes, about a quarter of a liter, which varies a little by country.
Add one cup of water to the mix.
The recipe needs two cups of milk.
Note
4
competitionnouncountable
A sports competition where the winner gets a cup as a prize.
Our small town team made it to the final round of the cup this year.
The summer sailing cup starts next Sunday on the lake.
UsageTeams win the cup.
Similartournament, competition, championship
5
winner's trophynouncountable
A large prize shaped like a big cup, given to a contest winner.
The winning team held the shiny cup high.
The captain lifted the silver cup high above her head.
UsageThe winners lift the cup.
Similartrophy
Note
6
hollow shapenouncountable
Any object that has the curved, hollow shape of a cup.
The flower opened into a bright yellow cup.
Rainwater collected in the leaf's small cup.
Similarbowl, hollow
Note
7
bra sizenouncountable
One of the two parts of a bra that cover the breasts, or its size, shown by a letter.
She wears a B cup.
The bra comes in every cup from A to E.
UsageSay a B cup.

Less common meanings

8
shape handsverbtransitive
To curve your hands into a bowl shape, or to hold something in them that way.
Like making a small bowl with your two hands.
Cup your hands so the seeds don't fall.
She cupped her hands around the warm mug.
UsageSay cup your hands.
9
groin guardnounCanadaUScountable
A hard, curved guard worn to protect a man's private parts in sports.
The coach told every player to wear a cup during practice.
He forgot his cup before the hockey game.
UsagePlayers wear a cup.
Similarbox
Note
10
golf holenouncountable
In golf, the small holder placed inside the hole on the green.
Her ball rolled right into the cup.
He tapped the short putt into the cup.
Similarhole
Note
11
suction padnouncountable
A soft, curved piece that sticks to a flat surface using suction.
Press the rubber cup firmly against the tile so it sticks.
The hook fell when its cup lost suction.
UsageAlso called a suction cup.
Similarsucker
12
dice shakernouncountable
A small container that holds dice so you can shake them before a throw.
Like shaking candy in a small box before tipping it out.
She rattled the dice in the cup before rolling.
Each player gets a cup to shake the dice in.
Similarshaker
13
fatenounarchaicfigurativelycountable
Whatever a person is given to enjoy or to suffer in life, both good and bad.
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James Version
Similarportion, lot, share
Note
14
sweet cocktailnouncountable or uncountablein compounds
A sweet alcoholic drink, often mixed with fruit and served cold.
Like a sweet party punch with a little alcohol in it.
He mixed a big bowl of claret cup for the party.
Summer cups are often made with wine, fruit, and soda.
UsageSay claret cup or gin cup.
Similarpunch
15
math symbolnouncountable
The ∪ symbol used in math to show the union of two sets.
Like a basket that holds everything from two smaller baskets.
In math class, we read A ∪ B out loud as "A cup B."
The math symbol called a cup looks like a capital U.
Note
16
tarot suitnouncountable
One of the four tarot suits in the minor arcana, or a single card from it.
Like one suit in a deck of playing cards, such as hearts.
She drew the Ace of Cups, a card about love.
In tarot, the suit of cups is linked with feelings and love.
Note
17
curve inwardverbtransitive
To shape something so that it curves inward like a cup.
Like bending a flat card so it curves into a little bowl.
Too much heat can cup a thin sheet of metal.
The damp air cupped the wooden floorboards.
Similarwarp, curve
Note
18
medical glassnounhistoricalcountable
A small glass used in old medicine to draw blood or fluid toward the skin by suction.
Like a small glass that sticks to the skin by sucking in.
The doctor placed a heated cup on the patient's back.
Each cup pulled the skin upward as the air cooled.
Note
19
verbarchaictransitive
To place a suction glass on someone's skin as an old medical treatment.
Note
20
verbobsoletetransitive
To give someone cups of wine to drink.
Cup us, till the world go round.
c. 1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”Here, cup means fill our cups with wine.
Note
21
verbrare
To pour a drink or other liquid into a cup.
22
noun
In ultimate frisbee, a way of defending where three players surround the thrower, or those three players.

Practice

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Origin

The English word 'cup' comes from two Old English words for 'cup' or 'vessel' that merged in Middle English. One probably came from Latin, and the other perhaps from an old Germanic word for a round object.