cook
1to prepare (food) by the use of heat, as by boiling, baking, or roasting.
to subject (anything) to the application of heat.
to prepare food by the use of heat.
(of food) to undergo cooking.
Slang.
to be full of activity and excitement: Las Vegas cooks around the clock.
to perform, work, or do in just the right way and with energy and enthusiasm: That new drummer is really cooking tonight. Now you're cooking!
to be in preparation; develop: Plans for the new factory have been cooking for several years.
a person who cooks: The restaurant hired a new cook.
cook off, (of a shell or cartridge) to explode or fire without being triggered as a result of overheating in the chamber of the weapon.
cook up, Informal.
to concoct or contrive, often dishonestly: She hastily cooked up an excuse.
to falsify: Someone had obviously cooked up the alibi.
Idioms about cook
cook one's goose. goose (def. 11).
cook the books, Slang. to manipulate the financial records of a company, organization, etc., so as to conceal profits, avoid taxes, or present a false financial report to stockholders.
Origin of cook
1Other words from cook
- cook·a·ble, adjective
- cookless, adjective
- un·cook·a·ble, adjective
Other definitions for cook (2 of 3)
to hide, especially outdoors, as by crouching down behind a hedge.
Origin of cook
2Other definitions for Cook (3 of 3)
Frederick Albert, 1865–1940, U.S. physician and polar explorer.
George Cram [jawrj-kram], /ˈdʒɔrdʒ ˈkræm/, 1873–1924, U.S. novelist, dramatist, and poet.
Captain James, 1728–79, English navigator and explorer in the South Pacific and Southern Oceans, particularly in the areas of Australia and New Zealand.
Sir Joseph, 1860–1947, Australian statesman, born in England: prime minister of Australia 1913–14.
Mount Cook, a mountain in New Zealand, on South Island. 12,349 feet (3,764 meters).: Also called A·o·ra·ki [ah-oh-rah-kee], /ˌɑ oʊˈrɑ ki/, A·o·ran·gi [ah-oh-rahng-gee]. /ˌɑ oʊˈrɑŋ gi/.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use cook in a sentence
Add the tomato paste and cook until darkened, 1 to 2 minutes.
How to make dal makhani, the most luxurious and creamy dal of all | Joe Yonan | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostThe past nine months feel as if I made a monkey’s paw wish that I had more time to cook.
Turn to duck confit for a holiday treat with long-lasting benefits | Mary Beth Albright | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostYou can even cook ripe pears in this drink as it warms, and serve them with vanilla or ginger ice cream.
This cocktail can keep you warm around the fire pit — and you can make it there, too | M. Carrie Allan | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostUsing rice that has already been cooked, either frozen or shelf-stable, is one of the reasons this colorful, nutritious and vegan recipe works so well.
Vegetarian and vegan main dishes to anchor your Thanksgiving menu | Becky Krystal, Kari Sonde | November 20, 2020 | Washington PostSo I’ll cut them into quarters, roast just until they’re cooked through but not browned, and finish them on the stove to order.
A guide to Brussels sprouts: How to choose, store, season and cook the versatile vegetable | Daniela Galarza | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post
The Plaza Hotel cooked a fancy-pants latke with red wine braised oxtail, horseradish sunchoke cream, and crispy kale.
The malted barley, yeast, and water are cooked, fermented, and distilled exactly the same.
His first experience had him swearing off “edibles”—food cooked with cannabis—for good.
Whitaker shows how some pharmaceutical companies have cooked the books to make the drugs seem more effective than they are.
Mother’s Little Anti-Psychotic Is Worth $6.9 Billion A Year | Jay Michaelson | November 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTDubbed the “Airbnb of food,” the site allows individuals traveling abroad to try authentic home-cooked meals.
Everything showed a rapid flight; even the would-be dinner of the guerrillas was found half cooked.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. DunnAt noon we camped, and cooked a bite of dinner while the horses grazed; ate it, and went on again.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. SinclairMadame Antoine had cooked little else than the mullets, but while Edna slept Robert had foraged the island.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinI would, too, but ma she hadn't nothing nice cooked up, and she was sort of scared offerin' city folks country victuals.
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn RaymondHad cooked up the scheme for pulling it off and had spent a good two weeks laying the groundwork.
British Dictionary definitions for cook (1 of 3)
/ (kʊk) /
to prepare (food) by the action of heat, as by boiling, baking, etc, or (of food) to become ready for eating through such a process: Related adjective: culinary
to subject or be subjected to the action of intense heat: the town cooked in the sun
(tr) slang to alter or falsify (something, esp figures, accounts, etc): to cook the books
(tr) slang to spoil or ruin (something)
(intr) slang to happen (esp in the phrase what's cooking?)
(tr) slang to prepare (any of several drugs) by heating
(intr) music slang to play vigorously: the band was cooking
cook someone's goose informal
to spoil a person's plans
to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc
a person who prepares food for eating, esp as an occupation
Origin of cook
1- See also cook up
Derived forms of cook
- cookable, adjective
- cooking, noun
British Dictionary definitions for Cook (2 of 3)
/ (kʊk) /
a mountain in New Zealand, in the South Island, in the Southern Alps: the highest peak in New Zealand. Height: reduced in 1991 by a rockfall from 3764 m (12 349 ft) to 3754 m (12 316 ft): Official name: Aoraki-Mount Cook
a mountain in SE Alaska, in the St Elias Mountains. Height: 4194 m (13 760 ft)
British Dictionary definitions for Cook (3 of 3)
/ (kʊk) /
Captain James . 1728–79, British navigator and explorer: claimed the E coast of Australia for Britain, circumnavigated New Zealand, and discovered several Pacific and Atlantic islands (1768–79)
Sir Joseph. 1860–1947, Australian statesman, born in England: prime minister of Australia (1913–14)
Peter (Edward). 1937–95, British comedy actor and writer, noted esp for his partnership (1960–73) with Dudley Moore
Robin, full name Robert Finlayson Cook . 1946–2005, British Labour politician; foreign secretary (1997–2001), Leader of the House (2001-2003)
Thomas. 1808–92, British travel agent; innovator of conducted excursions and founder of the travel agents Thomas Cook and Son
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with cook
In addition to the idioms beginning with cook
- cook someone's goose
- cook the books
- cook up
- cook with gas
also see:
- chief cook and bottlewasher
- short order (cook)
- too many cooks spoil the broth
- what's cooking
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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