# cup

Pronunciation: say "KUP" /kʌp/

## Noun

1. A concave drinking vessel, usually made of opaque material rather than glass, and fitted with a handle.
   - Simple: A small round container, usually with a handle, used for drinking.
   - _She set a porcelain cup beside the saucer._
   - _The cup's handle had cracked after years of daily use._
2. The liquid held inside a cup; its drinkable contents.
   - Simple: The amount of drink that a cup holds.
   - _He gulped down his cup in one go._
   - _After the long walk, she warmed up with a cup of broth._
3. A unit of volume used especially in cooking, equal to 8 US fluid ounces (about 240 ml) in the US and 250 ml in metric countries.
   - Simple: An amount used in recipes, about a quarter of a liter, which varies a little by country.
   - _Stir in a cup of broth and let it simmer._
   - _She measured out three cups of stock for the soup._
4. A competition, especially a knockout tournament, in which the winner is awarded a cup.
   - Simple: A sports competition where the winner gets a cup as a prize.
   - _The cup starts in August, and small clubs sometimes get to play the big ones._
   - _She had played in the cup three times before retiring._
5. A trophy made in the shape of an oversized cup, awarded to the winner of a competition.
   - Simple: A large prize shaped like a big cup, given to a contest winner.
   - _The captain hoisted the cup as confetti rained down._
   - _Each year the champion's name is engraved on the base of the cup._
6. Any object that takes on the rounded, hollow shape of a cup.
   - Simple: Any object that has the curved, hollow shape of a cup.
   - _The blossom formed a perfect cup to hold the morning dew._
   - _Erosion had carved a shallow cup into the surface of the rock._
7. Either of the two shaped parts of a bra that cover the breasts, or the size of this part, shown by a letter such as A, B, or C.
   - Simple: One of the two parts of a bra that cover the breasts, or its size, shown by a letter.
   - _After the fitting, she learned she was actually a D cup._
   - _The brand recently extended its range to larger cup sizes._
9. A rigid, concave protective shield worn to guard the male genitals, especially during contact sports. *(Canada, US)*
   - Simple: A hard, curved guard worn to protect a man's private parts in sports.
   - _Catchers always wear a cup to protect against foul tips._
   - _The boxer adjusted his cup before stepping into the ring._
10. In golf, a cup-shaped liner set inside the target hole to hold the flagstick.
   - Simple: In golf, the small holder placed inside the hole on the green.
   - _The putt curled around the rim before dropping into the cup._
   - _Groundskeepers move the cup to a new spot on the green each morning._
11. A flexible, concave membrane that clings to a flat surface by suction, used to hold a hook or handle in place.
   - Simple: A soft, curved piece that sticks to a flat surface using suction.
   - _Wet the rubber cup before pressing it against the window so the suction holds._
   - _The soap dish stayed up only as long as its cup gripped the smooth wall by suction._
12. A container used to hold and shake dice before they are thrown.
   - Simple: A small container that holds dice so you can shake them before a throw.
   - _He gave the cup a vigorous shake and tipped the dice onto the felt._
   - _Tournament rules require every roll to come straight from the cup._
14. Any of several sweetened alcoholic mixtures, such as claret cup.
   - Simple: A sweet alcoholic drink, often mixed with fruit and served cold.
   - _The bar's summer menu offers a gin-based cup with cucumber, mint, and sliced strawberries._
   - _A claret cup was passed around after dinner._
15. In mathematics, the symbol ∪, used to denote set union and related operations.
   - Simple: The ∪ symbol used in math to show the union of two sets.
   - _The cup in 'A ∪ B' combines every element of both sets._
   - _A cup placed between two sets yields their union._
16. A suit of the minor arcana in tarot, or one of the cards belonging to that suit.
   - Simple: One of the four tarot suits in the minor arcana, or a single card from it.
   - _He turned over the Three of Cups, which readers often take as a sign of friendship._
   - _Several cups appeared in the spread, suggesting strong emotions._
18. A glass or other vessel used to create the vacuum in the practice of cupping.
   - Simple: A small glass used in old medicine to draw blood or fluid toward the skin by suction.
   - _The physician warmed the cup before pressing it to the skin._
   - _A row of glass cups left round marks along his spine._

## Verb

8. To curve the hands into the hollow shape of a cup, or to hold something in hands curved this way.
   - Simple: To curve your hands into a bowl shape, or to hold something in them that way.
   - _Cup your palms together to hold a little water._
   - _He cupped his hands to shield the match from the wind._
17. To make something concave or shaped like a cup.
   - Simple: To shape something so that it curves inward like a cup.
   - _Excess moisture will cup the floorboards over time._
   - _Years of summer heat had cupped the thin boards of the old deck._

## Noun

13. That which one must receive or endure; the portion of blessings and afflictions allotted to a person. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Whatever a person is given to enjoy or to suffer in life, both good and bad.

## Verb

19. To apply a cupping glass or apparatus to someone, subjecting them to the procedure of cupping. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: To place a suction glass on someone's skin as an old medical treatment.
20. To supply someone with cups of wine. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: To give someone cups of wine to drink.

## Other meanings

- (verb) To pour a liquid, such as a drink, into a cup.
- (noun) In ultimate frisbee, a defensive formation in which three near defenders surround the thrower, or those three players themselves.

## Origin

'Cup' comes from Middle English, formed when two Old English words merged: 'cuppe' (usually traced to Late Latin 'cuppa', probably from Latin 'cūpa' meaning tub or cask) and 'copp' (perhaps from Proto-Germanic 'kuppaz', a round object or vessel). It was later reinforced by Anglo-Norman 'cupe' and Old French 'cope', 'coupe', also from Latin 'cuppa'. It is a doublet of coupe, hive, and keeve.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cup (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).