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
cupped; cupping
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
Synonyms
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
Katrina Cossey, Parents, 26 Apr. 2024
Place buckwheat and all-purpose flours, maple syrup, ⅔ cup milk, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter and a ½ teaspoon salt in a blender; process until smooth, starting on low speed and slowly increasing to high, 1 to 2 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
These shoes are also designed with ample arch support, spacious toe boxes, and deep heel cups, making comfort a major priority.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
Standing in a Haleyville School District pantry a few weeks ago, Ms. Hallman nodded to boxes containing cups of Cocoa Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
—Julie Creswell Audra Melton, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Jennifer Aniston is ready to pour herself a cup of ambition.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Cup holders are also a nice bonus, though many Adirondack chairs have wide enough armrests to set your drink on without a dedicated cup holder.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2024
This hard-to-recycle plastic is used to make CD cases, disposable cups, food packaging and insulation.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Inside the cup, the glaze coats a rough-hewn interior that differs from cup to cup.
—Jaina Grey, WIRED, 22 Apr. 2024
Lauren Huff, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2024
Whether young man or mom, the gesture puts the palm of his or her right hand up against the head, cupping the cheek.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The bowl cupped a spherical cloud of iron that acted as a radiator for the waste heat emitted by Paradise’s quadrillions of computing modules.
—Karl Schroeder, IEEE Spectrum, 24 Feb. 2024
My answers, along with a check of my pulse, form the basis of my treatment itinerary, which includes daily four-hand oil massages, acupuncture, and sessions devoted to cupping, yogic posture, breath work, and meditation.
—Prasad Ramamurthy, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024
No one would ever again cup Theo as tenderly as that girl had.
—Addie Citchens, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Just before tipoff, in a nightly ritual of preparation, Jokić cupped his hands and blew into them, a musician tuning his instrument.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
The front portion was blown out straight and tucked behind her ear, with the ends gently cupping her jawline.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023
The triple threat's hair now hits just below her ear, gently cupping her jawline.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Jan. 2024
Noun
The 5-piece set includes one plate, fork, spoon, cup, and bowl.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 26 Apr. 2024
Place buckwheat and all-purpose flours, maple syrup, ⅔ cup milk, 2 eggs, 2 tablespoons melted butter and a ½ teaspoon salt in a blender; process until smooth, starting on low speed and slowly increasing to high, 1 to 2 minutes.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
These shoes are also designed with ample arch support, spacious toe boxes, and deep heel cups, making comfort a major priority.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2024
Standing in a Haleyville School District pantry a few weeks ago, Ms. Hallman nodded to boxes containing cups of Cocoa Puffs and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
—Julie Creswell Audra Melton, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Jennifer Aniston is ready to pour herself a cup of ambition.
—Michaela Zee, Variety, 25 Apr. 2024
Cup holders are also a nice bonus, though many Adirondack chairs have wide enough armrests to set your drink on without a dedicated cup holder.
—Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Apr. 2024
This hard-to-recycle plastic is used to make CD cases, disposable cups, food packaging and insulation.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2024
Inside the cup, the glaze coats a rough-hewn interior that differs from cup to cup.
—Jaina Grey, WIRED, 22 Apr. 2024
Verb
In an Instagram post from Trudy Lines Tattoo shared Monday, Hemsworth can be seen holding Damon's hand with one hand and cupping his head in the other.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2024
Whether young man or mom, the gesture puts the palm of his or her right hand up against the head, cupping the cheek.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The bowl cupped a spherical cloud of iron that acted as a radiator for the waste heat emitted by Paradise’s quadrillions of computing modules.
—Karl Schroeder, IEEE Spectrum, 24 Feb. 2024
My answers, along with a check of my pulse, form the basis of my treatment itinerary, which includes daily four-hand oil massages, acupuncture, and sessions devoted to cupping, yogic posture, breath work, and meditation.
—Prasad Ramamurthy, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024
No one would ever again cup Theo as tenderly as that girl had.
—Addie Citchens, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
Just before tipoff, in a nightly ritual of preparation, Jokić cupped his hands and blew into them, a musician tuning his instrument.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024
The front portion was blown out straight and tucked behind her ear, with the ends gently cupping her jawline.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 28 Nov. 2023
The triple threat's hair now hits just below her ear, gently cupping her jawline.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cup
Cite this Entry
“Cup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cup. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cup
1 of 2 noun1
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 noun1
: 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
: to treat by cupping
: to undergo or perform cupping
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