Cup
/kʌp/
nounverbA1
Definition
As a noun, a cup is a small open container with a handle, used to drink liquids like water, tea, or coffee. As a verb, to cup means to hold something carefully with your hands shaped like a bowl or circle, usually to protect or collect something.
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⚡ See It in Action
Noun: A small container for drinking
- •She poured coffee into a cup.
- •Please give me a cup of water.
- •The cup is on the table next to the plate.
Verb: To hold something gently with hands shaped like a cup
- •He cupped the bird carefully in his hands.
- •She cupped water to splash on her face.
- •The child cupped his hands to catch raindrops.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "cup" like "glass," but smaller and often with a handle for hot drinks.
- ✓Picture holding a warm cup of tea in your hands, feeling its round shape and warmth.
- ✓It’s the cozy feeling when you hold a cup to warm your cold hands.
- ✓Sounds like "cup" → imagine a small round container that fits perfectly in your hand.
- ✓Think of a story where someone cups water in their hands to drink from a river.
- ✓NOT like "bottle" (which has a lid and is taller), a cup is open and easy to drink from.
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "grab" (which is quick and sometimes rough), "cup" is gentle and careful.
- ✓As a noun, NOT like "bowl" (which is bigger and used for food), a cup is smaller and for drinks.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Mug: a larger cup, usually with a handle, used for hot drinks (Use when the container is bigger and more casual)
- •Bowl: a round container for food or liquids, bigger than a cup (Use when holding food or bigger amounts)
- •Glass: a container usually made of clear material, without a handle (Use for cold drinks)
- •Hold: to carry or support something with your hands (Use when "cup" is used as a verb but you want a more general word)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: "cup" is a simple root word without prefixes or suffixes
- •Etymology: From Old English "cuppe," meaning a small container for liquids
- •Historical development: Used for centuries to mean a drinking vessel, the word stayed simple and clear
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for drinking containers and the action of holding something gently with hands
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How do you feel when you hold a warm cup on a cold day? Does it change your mood?
•Can you think of times when "cupping" something with your hands helps protect it? What are those moments?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She poured tea into a ___ and held it carefully to avoid ___ burning her hands.
2.When the kitten was cold, he ___ it gently in his hands to keep it safe.
3.Unlike a bottle, a ___ is open at the top and easy to drink from.
4.To catch the water from the fountain, she ___ her hands together like a ___.
5.The cup was full of hot coffee, so he held it by the ___ to avoid ___ the heat.
6.In the morning, he always drinks his coffee from a ___ before starting work.
7.When you ___ your hands around something, you usually want to ___ it carefully.