cup
A1neutral
Definition
Meaning
a small, round container, usually with a handle, used for drinking liquids.
A trophy in the shape of a cup; a standard measure in cooking (especially US); a hollow or depression; to form hands into a curved shape.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primary concrete meaning as a drinking vessel. Extends to sports trophies and measurement units.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
As a unit of measure, 'cup' is standard in US recipes (approx 240ml). In UK, metric units (millilitres) are now more common, though 'cup' is understood. In sports contexts, both use 'cup' for tournaments (FA Cup, Stanley Cup).
Connotations
Similar core connotations of comfort (cup of tea) and achievement (winning the cup).
Frequency
Higher frequency in US cooking contexts. Similar frequency in general and sporting contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cup one's handscup sth in one's handswin the cupVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “not one's cup of tea”
- “in one's cups (archaic for drunk)”
- “cup of joy”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in branding (e.g., 'Red Cup season' for Starbucks).
Academic
Rare, except in historical/archaeological contexts describing artefacts.
Everyday
Very high frequency for drinking vessels and casual recipes.
Technical
Standardised unit of volume in US cooking; specific capacities in sports (e.g., Ryder Cup).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He cupped his hands to drink from the stream.
- She gently cupped the injured bird.
American English
- He cupped his hands around his mouth to shout.
- Cup the dough and place it on the tray.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- cup-sized (referring to bra size)
- cup-tied (football, ineligible to play for another team in same cup)
American English
- cup holders in a car
- cup cake
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I drink a cup of coffee every morning.
- Can I have a cup of water, please?
- She won the cup in the school tennis tournament.
- Add one cup of sugar to the mixture.
- He cupped his face in his hands, exhausted.
- The team's victory in the cup final was unexpected.
- The valley was cupped by snow-capped mountains.
- They discussed the ethics of the America's Cup yacht design.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CUP: Container Used for Pouring (or drinking). Think of the shape of your hands when you 'cup' them.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONS/EXPERIENCE (a cup of happiness, cup of sorrow); ACHIEVEMENT AS A PHYSICAL OBJECT (lift the cup).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'чашка' (chashka) which is only the drinking vessel. Russian uses 'кубок' (kubok) for trophy and 'стакан' (stakan) for a glass. The verb 'to cup' has no direct single-word equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'glass' for a ceramic cup with a handle. Using 'cup' for a large mug without a handle (mug is better). Saying 'a cup of wine' (usually 'a glass of wine').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cup' used as a standard unit of measure?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A cup typically has a handle and a saucer, is often made of fine china, and is used for tea/coffee. A mug is larger, heavier, often cylindrical, and may or may not have a handle.
Yes, it means to form your hands into a curved shape, like a cup, or to hold something gently in such a shape.
Yes, 'not my cup of tea' is a common idiom meaning 'not something I like or am interested in.' The literal meaning is simply a drink.
It varies. A US customary cup is 240 ml (8 fl oz). A UK imperial cup (now rare) was 284 ml (10 fl oz). A metric cup is 250 ml. In cooking, always check the recipe's origin.