cup - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
cup Word Meanings
- a small, typically cylindrical container for drinking
- a trophy awarded for victory in a competition
- to receive or hold something like a cup, as in a cup of tea.
cup Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
cup Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/kʌp/
US
/kʌp/
cup Word Etymology
From Old English 'cuppa' (cup, drinking vessel) + Latin 'cupa' (tub, container). Imagine a round cup filled with your favorite drink, inviting you to take a sip and feel refreshed.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I reach for a cup, my hand moving across the table. I turn my wrist and lift it slowly, adjusting my grip so it won’t slip. I bring the cup to my lips, breathe, and take a steady sip. In that small sequence, the cup feels like more than a vessel, something I can keep close and set back with care.
Real Context
cup is a small, versatile word in English that refers to a drinking vessel, a trophy, or a verb phrase meaning to surround something with hands. When used as a noun for a container, it usually implies a small, handle-bearing vessel such as a teacup or coffee cup. In sports, a Cup is typically a trophy awarded to winners, as in the World Cup or the Stanley Cup. The phrasal usage a cup of tea describes the drink itself, and to cup means to shape the hands around something. Learners often mix up cup with mug or confuse countability in plural forms. Contexts vary by region and formality.
Usage Reminders
- - A cup is countable when you mean the vessel (one cup, two cups)
- - Don’t confuse cup with mug; a mug is usually larger and often used for hot drinks
- - World Cup is a proper noun; generic trophies may be called cups or trophies
- - A cup of tea describes the beverage, not the cup itself
- - To cup your hands means to shape the hands into a small bowl
Common Misconceptions
- Cup and mug are the same thing in everyday use
- A cup cannot be a trophy
- A cup is always small and with a handle
- World Cup is just any cup
- You must always use a handle when describing a cup
Thinking Differences
English uses cup to cover several ideas in one short word: a drinking container, a trophy, and a verb sense for shaping hands. Learners often assume cup equals mug or assume all cups refer to trophies in sports. Pay attention to capitalization in World Cup and to the phrase a cup of tea which centers on the beverage.
Learning Tips
- memorize that cup can mean three things: container, trophy, verb sense
- compare cup with mug by size and context
- learn phrases like cup of tea and World Cup as separate cases
- practice plural cups for multiple containers
- notice capitalization rules for World Cup and other titles
- create your own sentences to reinforce each meaning
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'cup'?
A.A piece of furniture for storage
B.A long writing instrument
C.A small round container for drinking from
D.A type of footwear
Step 2: Usage
How is the word 'cup' commonly used in a sentence?
A.She sat on the cup
B.He drank water from the cup
C.The cup played music
D.The cup flew in the sky
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is similar to 'cup'?
A.Chair
B.Spoon
C.Hat
D.Mug
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'cup'?
A.Plate
B.Bottle
C.Fork
D.Knife
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you commonly encounter a cup?
A.Library
B.Camping trip
C.Park
D.Office meeting
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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