Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense cooks, present participle cooking, past tense, past participle cooked
1. verb
When you cook a meal, you prepare food for eating by heating it.
I have to go and cook the dinner. [VERB noun]
Chefs at the St James Court restaurant have cooked for the Queen. [VERB]
We'll cook them a nice Italian meal. [VERB noun noun]
cookinguncountable noun
Her hobbies include music, dancing, sport and cooking.
2. verb
When you cook food, or when food cooks, it is heated until it is ready to be eaten.
...some basic instructions on how to cook a turkey. [VERB noun]
Let the vegetables cook gently for about 10 minutes. [VERB]
Drain the pasta as soon as it is cooked. [VERB-ed]
3. countable noun
A cook is a person whose job is to prepare and cook food, especially in someone's home or in an institution.
They had a butler, a cook, and a maid.
4. countable noun [adjective NOUN]
If you say that someone is a good cook, you mean they are good at preparing and cooking food.
5.
See to cook the books
6. See also cooking
Phrasal verbs:
See cook up
cook in British English
(kʊk)
verb
1.
to prepare (food) by the action of heat, as by boiling, baking, etc, or (of food) to become ready for eating through such a process
▶ Related adjective: culinary
2.
to subject or be subjected to the action of intense heat
the town cooked in the sun
3. (transitive) slang
to alter or falsify (something, esp figures, accounts, etc)
to cook the books
4. (transitive) slang
to spoil or ruin (something)
5. (intransitive) slang
to happen (esp in the phrase what's cooking?)
6. (transitive) slang
to prepare (any of several drugs) by heating
7. (intransitive) music slang
to play vigorously
the band was cooking
8. cook someone's goose
noun
9.
a person who prepares food for eating, esp as an occupation
Derived forms
cookable (ˈcookable)
adjective
cooking (ˈcooking)
noun
Word origin
Old English cōc (n), from Latin coquus a cook, from coquere to cook
Cook in British English1
(kʊk)
noun
Mount Cook
1. Aoraki-Mount Cook
2.
a mountain in SE Alaska, in the St Elias Mountains. Height: 4194 m (13 760 ft)
Cook in British English2
(kʊk)
noun
1.
Sir Alastair (Nathan). born 1984, English cricketer: a batsman, he played in 161 test matches (59 as captain) and scored 12,472 runs (an England record)
2.
Captain James. 1728–79, British navigator and explorer: claimed the E coast of Australia for Britain, circumnavigated New Zealand, and discovered several Pacific and Atlantic islands (1768–79)
3.
Sir Joseph. 1860–1947, Australian statesman, born in England: prime minister of Australia (1913–14)
4.
Peter (Edward). 1937–95, British comedy actor and writer, noted esp for his partnership (1960–73) with Dudley Moore
5.
Robin, full name Robert Finlayson Cook. 1946–2005, British Labour politician; foreign secretary (1997–2001), Leader of the House (2001-2003)
6.
Thomas. 1808–92, British travel agent; innovator of conducted excursions and founder of the travel agents Thomas Cook and Son
Cook in American English1
(kʊk)
James1728-79; Eng. naval officer & explorer: explored Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, etc.
Cook in American English2
(kʊk)
Mountmountain of the Southern Alps, New Zealand: highest peak in New Zealand: 12,349 ft (3,764 m)
cook in American English
(kʊk)
noun
1.
a person who prepares food for eating
verb transitive
2.
to prepare (food) for eating by subjecting to heat, as by boiling, baking, frying, etc.
3.
to subject to heat or to some treatment suggestive of a heating process
4.
to tamper with; falsify
5. Slang
to spoil; ruin
verb intransitive
6.
to act or serve as a cook
7.
to undergo the process of being cooked
8. Jazz
to play, esp. to improvise, in an inspired and rhythmically exciting way
Idioms:
cook up
what's cooking?
Word origin
ME cok < OE coc < VL cocus < L coquus < coquere, to cook < IE base *pekw-, to cook > Gr peptein, Sans pácate, (he) cooks, OE afigen, fried
cook in Hospitality1
(kʊk)
Word forms: (regular plural) cooks
noun
(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, cooking)
A cook is a person whose job is to prepare and cook food, for example in a restaurant or hotel.
The cook prepares and serves breakfast, snacks and one main meal per day.
Our cooks provide food that is well prepared.
The cook will work together with the head chef to prepare a three-course meal.
cook in Hospitality2
(kʊk)
Word forms: (present) cooks, (past) cooked, (perfect) cooked, (progressive) cooking
verb (transitive) (intransitive)
(Hospitality (hotel): Food and drink, cooking)
When you cook food, or when food cooks, it is heated until it is ready to be eaten.
Cook the vegetables gently for about ten minutes.
We cook our tuna steaks by frying or grilling.
Eggs should be stored in the fridge and cooked thoroughly in a pot or pan.
More idioms containing
cook
cook your goose
cook the books
Examples of 'cook' in a sentence
cook
IT'S not just about cooking up delicious meals in the kitchen.
The Sun (2016)
It will be looking directly at you where your favourite food is cooked.
The Sun (2016)
Cover and cook on high heat for one hour.
The Sun (2017)
The sauce could be made while cooking something else.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My theory is that if it tastes good raw, it will taste good cooked.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They prepare freshly cooked dishes for a short, regularly changing menu.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
When they leave school, they should know how to cook.
The Sun (2016)
Like cod it is endlessly versatile and this way of cooking it in a creamy onion and spinach sauce is a new favourite.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I do a lot of the cooking at home, and luckily we grow all our own veg.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was speaking at the opening of a new training network for school cooks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Here are ten dishes from his new book he thinks all good cooks should master.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Prepare by cooking enough the day before that you can eat leftovers.
Christianity Today (2000)
Tea is usually a cooked dinner like chops and vegetables.
The Sun (2006)
He has planned two days of long walks and is cooking special food to cheer her up.
The Sun (2011)
Yet cooking is a basic survival skill.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We filled pots to cook pasta with and to heat up for sponge baths.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The mushrooms should give out enough moisture to cook themselves gently.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
What was the best thing you learned about cooking while you were there?
The Sun (2014)
Pour in eggs and stir over a gentle heat until cooked.
The Sun (2014)
These are two aggressive players who could cook up something of a classic.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Turn a few times to cook all the way through.
The Sun (2015)
She does all the cooking at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Flowers in cooking have become wilder now.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They were cooking meals for the nanny to heat up.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He is extremely hardworking and a very good cook.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Do you have a favourite implement to cook or prepare food with?
The Sun (2015)
She got on with cooking a huge dinner with all the trimmings.
The Sun (2012)
We also need to introduce basic cooking skills into primary and secondary schools.
The Sun (2014)
Take off the heat and allow the rhubarb to cook through gently.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
People can carry gas home in specially designed bags or bring their food to be cooked on the communal stove.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Families would have lived there with two to three maids and live-in cook.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The staff consist of a cook, butler and maid.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Quotations
Cookery has become an art, a noble science; cooks are gentlemenRobert BurtonAnatomy of Melancholy
Too many cooks spoil the broth
Word lists with
cook
mountain
In other languages
cook
British English: cook /kʊk/ NOUN
A cook is a person whose job is to prepare and cook food.
They had a butler, a cook, and a maid.
American English: cook
Arabic: طَبَّاخ
Brazilian Portuguese: cozinheiro
Chinese: 厨师
Croatian: kuhar
Czech: kuchař
Danish: kok
Dutch: kok
European Spanish: cocinero
Finnish: kokki
French: cuisinier
German: Koch
Greek: μάγειρας
Italian: cuoco
Japanese: 料理人
Korean: 요리사
Norwegian: kokk
Polish: kucharz
European Portuguese: cozinheiro
Romanian: bucătar
Russian: повар
Latin American Spanish: cocinero
Swedish: kock
Thai: พ่อครัว
Turkish: aşçı
Ukrainian: кухар
Vietnamese: đầu bếp
British English: cook /kʊk/ VERB
When you cook, or cook a meal, you prepare and heat food so it can be eaten.
We'll cook my parents a nice traditional meal.
Let the vegetables cook gently for about 10 minutes.
American English: cook
Arabic: يَطْبَخُ
Brazilian Portuguese: cozinhar
Chinese: 烹调
Croatian: kuhati
Czech: vařit
Danish: lave mad
Dutch: koken
European Spanish: cocinar
Finnish: laittaa ruokaa
French: cuisiner
German: kochen
Greek: μαγειρεύω
Italian: cucinare
Japanese: 料理する
Korean: 요리하다
Norwegian: tilberede
Polish: ugotować
European Portuguese: cozinhar
Romanian: a găti
Russian: готовить еду
Latin American Spanish: cocinar
Swedish: laga mat
Thai: ทำอาหาร
Turkish: pişirmek
Ukrainian: готувати
Vietnamese: nấu ăn
All related terms of 'cook'
cook up
If someone cooks up a dishonest scheme , they plan it.
cook-off
a cooking competition in which the contestants each prepare dishes for judging either by a group of judges or by the general public
cook shop
a shop that sells cookery equipment
fry cook
a cook who mainly prepares fried foods, as at a lunch counter
cook-chill
a method of food preparation used by caterers , in which cooked dishes are chilled rapidly and reheated as required
Cook Inlet
an inlet of the Pacific on the coast of S Alaska : part of the Gulf of Alaska
Cook Strait
the strait between North and South Islands , New Zealand . Width : 26 km (16 miles)
cook-general
(formerly, esp in the 1920s and '30s) a domestic servant who did cooking and housework
Cook Islands
a group of islands in the SW Pacific , an overseas territory of New Zealand : consists of the Lower Cooks and the Northern Cooks Capital: Avarua, on Rarotonga. Pop: 10 447 (2013 est). Area: 234 sq km (90 sq miles)
pressure-cook
to cook ( food ) in a pressure cooker
cook a dish
Food that is prepared in a particular style or combination can be referred to as a dish .
Cook's tour
a rapid but extensive tour or survey of anything
cook vegetables
Vegetables are plants such as cabbages , potatoes , and onions which you can cook and eat.
cook the books
to dishonestly change the figures in your financial accounts in order to deceive people
Aoraki-Mount Cook
a mountain in New Zealand , in the South Island , in the Southern Alps : the highest peak in New Zealand. Height : reduced in 1991 by a rockfall from 3764 m (12 349 ft) to 3754 m (12 316 ft); further erosion has reduced the height to 3724 m (12 217 ft)
Aorangi-Mount Cook
a mountain in New Zealand , in the South Island , in the Southern Alps : the highest peak in New Zealand. Height : reduced in 1991 by a rockfall from 3764 m (12 349 ft) to 3754 m (12 316 ft); further erosion has reduced the height to 3724 m (12 217 ft)
cook-chill foods
foods which are chilled rapidly and reheated as required
Cook Island Māori
a dialect of Māori spoken in the Cook Islands
cook your goose
to do something which gets you into trouble or spoils your chances of success
Mount Cook lily
a large white buttercup , Ranunculus lyallii, of the South Island alpine country of New Zealand
cookbook
A cookbook is a book that contains recipes for preparing food.
cook someone's goose
If you cook someone's goose , you prevent their plans from succeeding .
to cook the books
If you say that someone has cooked the books , you mean that they have changed figures or a written record in order to deceive people.
pastry chef
a cook who specializes in cakes and pastries
cookoff
a cooking contest in which competitors gather to prepare their specialties
great mountain buttercup
a large white buttercup , Ranunculus lyallii, of the South Island alpine country of New Zealand