Cook
/kʊk/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo prepare food by applying heat.
/kʊk/
To prepare food using heat.
I like to cook pasta for dinner.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're making a pizza! Cooking means using heat, like the oven, to turn raw ingredients into something yummy. For instance, cooking a burger means grilling it until it's done.
👶 For kids: To make food ready to eat by using heat, like in an oven or on a stove.
More Examples
Can you cook the chicken?
She learned to cook at her grandmother's knee.
How It's Used
"She cooks dinner every evening."
"He cooks a meal for his family on weekends."
A person who prepares food, especially as an occupation.
/kʊk/
A person who prepares food.
The cook at the restaurant is famous for his special sauce.
💡 Simply: Think about the person at a restaurant who makes the food you order! That person is a cook. They know how to mix ingredients, use the stove, and make sure everything tastes delicious.
👶 For kids: Someone who makes food.
More Examples
The ship's cook prepared the crew's meals.
She aspired to be a cook and opened her own restaurant.
How It's Used
"The cook in the kitchen is very skilled."
"She hired a cook to prepare meals for her family."
Idioms & expressions
cook up
To invent or create something, often a story or a plan.
"They cooked up a plan to surprise their friend."
Too many cooks spoil the broth
When too many people are involved in a project, it can ruin the outcome.
"With so many people giving input, it's no wonder the project failed; too many cooks spoil the broth."
From Middle English coken, from Old English cocian ('to prepare food by heat'), related to Old French cuisinier (to cook).
Used in Old English to describe the preparation of food with heat.