cup

1 /kVp/ noun

1 FOR DRINKING FROM (C) a small round container with a handle, that you use to drink tea, coffee etc: a cup and saucer | tea cup/coffee cup: a beautiful set of tea cups

-compare mug 1 (1)

2 DRINK (C) the liquid contained inside a cup: Would you like another cup?

(+ of): a nice hot cup of coffee

3 AMOUNT OF LIQUID (C)

a) also cupful the amount of liquid a cup can hold: She came round to borrow a cupful of sugar.

b) AmE an exact measure of quantity used in cooking in the US, Canada, and New Zealand: Stir half a cup of sugar and one cup of flour into the batter.

4 ROUND THING (C) something round and hollow that is shaped like a cup: acorn cups

(+ of): the cup of a flower | She held it in the cup of her hand.

5 SPORT

a) (C) a specially shaped silver container that is given as a prize in a competition, especially a sports competition: The president of the club came to present the cup to the winners.

b) (singular) especially BrE a sports competition: She's been picked to play in the Wightman Cup.

c) AmE a hole in the ground that you have to try to get the ball into in the game of golf

6 CLOTHING (C) the part of a bra that covers a woman's breast

7 MIXED DRINK BrE (C, U) a mixed alcoholic drink: cider cup | a glass of champagne-cup

8 not be your cup of tea spoken to not be the sort of thing that you like: Jazz just isn't my cup of tea - I prefer classical music.

9 in your cups BrE old-fashioned drunk, or when drunk: He sometimes attempted to speak French, in his cups.

-see also: eggcup, loving cup 2 verb cupped, cupping (T)

1 to hold something in your hands, so that your hands form part of a circle around it: Phil cupped her face in his hands and kissed her.

2 cup your hand(s) to make a shape like a cup with your hand or hands: He cupped his hands and I poured some water into them.