cup
cup — verb
1. To bend your hands or fingers into a rounded shape, usually so that you can hold
To bend your hands or fingers into a rounded shape, usually so that you can hold something small or protect it, or to rest a part of your body (such as your chin or face) in your curved palm.
Shanti cupped her hands around the tiny bird to keep it warm.
cup + hands + around + object — holding to protect
With a worried look, Otis cupped his chin in his hand while thinking about the problem.
cup + body part + in + hand
Felipe carefully cupped the injured bird in both hands and carried it inside.
Kneeling by the riverbank, Hiro cupped his hands to take a drink of the fresh water.
cup + hands + to [infinitive of purpose]
Liang cupped his hands around the match to shield it from the strong wind.
- cup your hands
- cup your chin
- cup your face in your hands
- cup your hands around something
- cup something in both hands
- cup something gently
- cup something carefully
- hold
More general; 'cup' specifically implies curved, protective hands
- cradle
More delicate and careful; 'cradle' suggests gentle support, while 'cup' emphasises the curved shape of the hands
- scoop
More specific to collecting liquid or loose material; 'cup' focuses on the hand position rather than the collecting action
Grammar Patterns
cup + body part (hands, chin) + in/around + noun
cup + noun + in + possessive + hands
cup + hands + around + noun
Usage Note
The object of this verb is often a body part (hands, chin, face) or a small, delicate object. When referring to protecting a flame, 'shield' or 'protect' often appears after 'to' to show the purpose.
Common Mistakes
cup — noun
1. A vessel with an open top and a handle on the side, used for drinking liquids li
A vessel with an open top and a handle on the side, used for drinking liquids like tea, coffee, or water. It may also refer to the amount of liquid held inside it.
Amira poured herself a cup of hot tea and sat down by the window.
cup of [drink] for contents
The waiter brought two cups of black coffee to the table.
Romi washed the coffee cups and put them back on the shelf.
Ilan carefully placed the porcelain cup on the saucer.
Each child had a small plastic cup filled with apple juice.
- cup of tea
- cup of coffee
- cup of water
- paper cup
- plastic cup
- coffee cup
- tea cup
Common Mistakes
2. A standard cooking measurement for dry or liquid ingredients. One cup is about 2
A standard cooking measurement for dry or liquid ingredients. One cup is about 237 millilitres, which equals eight fluid ounces. The word can also mean the container used to hold this amount.
The recipe calls for two cups of flour and one cup of sugar.
cooking collocation: cups of flour / sugar
Mateo measured out a cup of rice before putting it in the pot.
Add half a cup of milk and stir the mixture slowly.
You will need three cups of water for every cup of pasta.
Inês checked the measuring cup to confirm she had enough oil.
- cup of flour
- cup of sugar
- half a cup
- measuring cup
- quarter cup
- two cups of
Usage Note
This measurement is standard in the US but rarely used in the UK, where recipes usually give weights in grams or volumes in millilitres.
3. Any item or piece with a hollow rounded form resembling a drinking cup — for exa
Any item or piece with a hollow rounded form resembling a drinking cup — for example, a holder for an egg, a rubber disc that sticks to walls, or the base of a flower.
The acorn sits in a small cup-shaped base called the cupule.
Saira placed the egg in a ceramic egg cup at breakfast.
The suction cup would not stick to the rough wall.
Botanists call the cup-like part of the flower the calyx.
cup shape in nature: flower parts
- egg cup
- suction cup
- cup-shaped
4. A decorative metal vessel, often made from silver or gold, handed to the person
A decorative metal vessel, often made from silver or gold, handed to the person or team that wins a contest, especially in sporting events. The term can also describe the contest itself.
The team captain lifted the silver cup above his head as the crowd cheered.
win/lift a cup — sports prize
Emily's school won the regional cup for the best swimming team.
The World Cup is awarded every four years to the winning soccer nation.
Zayd polished the gold cup until it shone brightly for the ceremony.
A small engraved cup sat on the shelf as a reminder of his victory.
- win the cup
- lift the cup
- World Cup
- cup final
- cup winner
- silver cup
Usage Note
When referring to the competition (e.g. 'the World Cup'), the word is usually capitalised. The trophy sense always suggests a formal competition, not an informal game.
Common Mistakes
5. A small flexible container, usually made of silicone, that a woman places inside
A small flexible container, usually made of silicone, that a woman places inside her body during her period to collect blood. It can be washed and reused, and is an alternative to sanitary pads or tampons.
Minh switched from tampons to a menstrual cup because it created less waste.
A menstrual cup can stay in place for twelve hours before it needs emptying.
worn for up to 12 hours — reusable alternative
Hiro's sister found the menstrual cup more comfortable than she had expected.
Many stores now carry several brands of menstrual cups alongside pads and tampons.
- menstrual cup
- reusable cup
- silicone cup
Usage Note
This is a relatively recent product name and is considered neutral in register — neither especially formal nor informal. The term 'menstrual cup' is always written as two words.
6. Each fabric section that forms the front part of a bra, designed to hold or cove
Each fabric section that forms the front part of a bra, designed to hold or cover a breast. Letters such as A, B, C, and D indicate the size of these sections.
A customer bought a bra with lace on the cups and a comfortable back strap.
The cups of this sports bra are designed to give extra support during exercise.
cup size / sports bra support
Mark checked the cup size before trying on the swimsuit top.
Paul prefers bras without underwires in the cups for everyday wear.
- cup size
- bra cup
- cup A/B/C/D
- underwire cup
Usage Note
When discussing bra sizes, 'cup' is used with a letter (A cup, B cup, etc.). The plural form 'cups' is more common when referring to the physical parts of a bra.
7. a hard plastic covering that male athletes wear over their groin area during con
a hard plastic covering that male athletes wear over their groin area during contact sports such as cricket, hockey, or boxing, to protect that part of the body from injury.
Ezra put on his protective cup before the cricket match started.
The hockey coach told every player to wear a cup during practice.
collocation: wear a cup
Faisal bought a new sports cup with thicker padding for the season.
The referee checked that every rugby player was wearing a cup before the match began.
- wear a cup
- put on a cup
- protective cup
- sports cup
- jockstrap
refers to the supportive undergarment, not the hard protective cup itself; a cup is often worn inside a jockstrap
- athletic supporter
formal term for a jockstrap; more general than 'cup'
Usage Note
Often simply called a 'cup' in sports contexts. The full term 'protective cup' or 'sports cup' helps avoid confusion with other meanings.
Common Mistakes
8. a cold drink made by mixing wine or another alcoholic drink with fruit juice, so
a cold drink made by mixing wine or another alcoholic drink with fruit juice, soda, or similar ingredients, commonly poured from a large container at social gatherings.
Lucía prepared a fruit cup with white wine and sliced oranges for the barbecue.
collocation: fruit cup
Christopher filled a large glass pitcher with cold cup and added fresh mint leaves.
At the wedding reception, the hosts served a sparkling cup made from rosé wine.
sparkling cup — a type made with fizzy wine or soda
Sade poured a tall glass of chilled cup and added a slice of lemon.
- fruit cup
- sparkling cup
- punch
similar mixed drink but usually served from a bowl rather than a pitcher; punch can be non-alcoholic
Usage Note
This meaning is most common in British English, especially for drinks like Pimm's Cup. Unlike 'punch,' a cup is typically served from a pitcher rather than a large punch bowl.
9. a short medical term — CUP — for an advanced cancer diagnosis: malignant cells h
a short medical term — CUP — for an advanced cancer diagnosis: malignant cells have spread to different parts of the body, yet doctors cannot determine the original tumour site.
Dr. Okafor wrote 'CUP' in the medical notes after reviewing the scan results.
CUP written as uppercase abbreviation in medical records
The oncology team explained that a CUP diagnosis means the cancer's origin remains unknown.
Jason read the CUP diagnosis in his uncle's file and asked for more details.
The hospital's tumour board discussed two new CUP cases during the weekly meeting.
CUP cases — hospital terminology for patients with this diagnosis
- CUP diagnosis
- CUP syndrome
- diagnosed with CUP
Usage Note
Always written in capital letters as an abbreviation. Used only in medical contexts. The full form 'carcinoma of uncertain primary origin' is typically explained to patients, while doctors may use the abbreviation in notes.
10. the circular hole cut into a golf green, often lined with a metal container, tha
the circular hole cut into a golf green, often lined with a metal container, that players try to hit the ball into in order to finish playing that section of the course.
Jiwoo's golf ball stopped just inches from the cup on the 18th green.
Walid carefully removed the flag before lifting his ball from the cup.
collocation: remove the flag from the cup
The cup on the final green was positioned dangerously close to the sand bunker.
Élise lined up her putt and watched the ball roll steadily toward the cup.
- the cup on the green
- putt into the cup
- the edge of the cup
- remove the ball from the cup
- hole
more general term; 'hole' can refer to the entire section of the course, while 'cup' specifically means the target hole on the green
Usage Note
In golf, 'cup' specifically means the hole on the putting green, not the entire section of the course (which is also called a 'hole'). The metal liner inside is sometimes called a 'cup' as well.
Common Mistakes
in your cups
idiomSomeone who is in their cups has drunk too much alcohol.
Brian became very talkative when he was in his cups.
Did you see how clumsy Sara was in her cups last night?
If something is not your cup of tea, you do not like it or are not interested in it.
Mountain climbing is not my cup of tea; I prefer reading.
Diego asked if I liked jazz, but it's not really his cup of tea.
This saying means that many things can go wrong before a plan is completed.
Don't celebrate too early; there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.
Maya reminded us that there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.
Word family
- cupfulnounB1
- cupboardnounA2
- cuppingnounC1
- cupcakenounA2
- cuppedadjectiveB2
- cuppingadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
The noun 'cup' (a drinking vessel with a handle) is the everyday word for containers used with hot drinks. A 'mug' is larger, thicker-walled, and usually holds coffee or tea — no saucer required. A 'glass' is transparent and used for cold drinks like water or juice; it has no handle. A 'goblet' is a fancy stemmed cup for wine, almost never used in daily life. The trophy sense of 'cup' (as in 'World Cup') overlaps with 'trophy', but 'trophy' is broader — it can be a shield, statue, or plaque, while a 'cup' in this sense is specifically a bowl-shaped prize. Across POS boundaries, the verb 'cup' (meaning to curve your hands into a cup shape) differs from 'hold' in that it specifies the round, protective hand position, not merely carrying or gripping. Example: 'He cupped the injured bird in both hands' suggests care and carefulness that the generic 'He held the bird' does not convey.
Common collocations
Nouns
- coffee cup
- tea cup
- paper cup
- plastic cup
- measuring cup
- World Cup
- cup size
- cup final
Phrases
- cup of tea/coffee/water
- half a cup
- win the cup
- lift the cup
- cup your hands
- putt into the cup
Prepositions
- cup of
- cup in
- cup with
- into the cup
Etymology
The word 'cup' traces back to Old English 'cuppe', which came from Latin 'cupa' meaning a tub or cask. The Latin word originally referred to a large wooden container for storing liquids, but in Late Latin the meaning shifted to a smaller drinking vessel. Related words in other European languages (such as French 'coupe' and German 'Kopf', originally meaning 'drinking bowl') follow the same path. English also borrowed 'keep' from the same ancient root via a different route.