cook-general: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A1Neutral/Informal (verb, noun), Professional (noun for person).
Quick answer
What does “cook-general” mean?
To prepare food for eating by applying heat (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To prepare food for eating by applying heat (e.g., boiling, frying, baking).
To prepare or concoct something, especially in a figurative or dishonest manner; to undergo the process of being heated for preparation; a person who prepares and cooks food professionally or at home.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling variations in derived forms (e.g., 'cookery book' (UK) vs. 'cookbook' (US)). The noun 'cooker' in UK English refers to the appliance (oven/stove); in US English, 'stove' or 'range' is standard, with 'cooker' being rare.
Connotations
Similar. The phrase "what's cooking?" (What's happening?) is slightly more idiomatic in US English.
Frequency
Equally frequent and core in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “cook-general” in a Sentence
SV (The chicken is cooking.)SVO (She cooked pasta.)SVOO (Cook me an omelette.)SVA (Cook on a low heat.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cook-general” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Could you cook the sausages under the grill?
- I learnt to cook at school.
American English
- She's cooking burgers on the grill.
- He cooks breakfast every Sunday.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- This chicken is not cook. (Incorrect usage; 'cooked' required)
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical in 'cooking the books' (fraudulent accounting).
Academic
Rare; used in food science/chemistry contexts (e.g., 'cooking processes alter starch').
Everyday
Extremely common for domestic food preparation.
Technical
Used in culinary arts with specific methods (sous-vide cooking).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cook-general”
- Incorrect: 'I will cook a coffee.' Correct: 'I will make some coffee.'
- Incorrect (UK speaker in US): 'Put it on the cooker.' (May cause confusion) Correct (US): 'Put it on the stove.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally no. For tea or coffee, use 'make' or 'brew'. 'Cook' is for food requiring heat application.
'Cook' is a general term for a person who cooks. 'Chef' is a professional, often the head of a kitchen. 'Cooker' (mainly UK) is the appliance (stove/oven).
Cook (present), cooked (past simple and past participle), cooking (present participle/gerund). It is a regular verb.
Yes, intransitively: e.g., 'Let the rice cook for 10 minutes.' or 'What's cooking?' (idiom).
To prepare food for eating by applying heat (e.
Cook-general is usually neutral/informal (verb, noun), professional (noun for person). in register.
Cook-general: in British English it is pronounced /kʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /kʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cook the books (falsify accounts)”
- “cook up (concoct, e.g., a story)”
- “what's cooking? (What's happening?)”
- “too many cooks spoil the broth”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a **cookie** being **cook**ed in the oven. Both words share the 'cook' root.
Conceptual Metaphor
PREPARING FOOD IS CREATING/CONCOCTING (e.g., 'cook up a scheme').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'cook the books' mean idiomatically?