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
Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
Starbucks has released a new holiday cup collection as the company kicks off the fall season this month.
—Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
James Manso, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024
Nancy cups his beautiful face and lays her cheek on his chest.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cup 
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Noun
Note: To halve this recipe use 3 cups broth, ½ cup pasta, 2 eggs and 2 lemons.
—Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 6 Nov. 2024
Starbucks has released a new holiday cup collection as the company kicks off the fall season this month.
—Elissa Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Related Articles Services: Acupuncture, cupping, ear seeding and more.
—James Manso, WWD, 29 Oct. 2024
Nancy cups his beautiful face and lays her cheek on his chest.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for cup
Dictionary Entries Near cup
Cite this Entry
“Cup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cup. Accessed 22 Nov. 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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