cup

noun

• 1a small bowl-shaped container for drinking from, typically having a handle.
• the contents of a cup:a cup of tea
• chiefly North American a measure of capacity used in cookery, equal to half a US pint (0.237 litre):a cup of butter
• (in church use) a chalice used at the Eucharist: Latin was replaced by the vernacular, and the cup was offered to the laity

• 2an ornamental trophy in the form of a cup, usually made of gold or silver and having a stem and two handles, awarded as a prize in a sports contest.
• (Cup) a contest in which the winners are awarded a cup:playing in the Cup is the best thing ever

• 3a cup-shaped thing.
• either of the two parts of a bra shaped to contain or support one breast:she had grown from an A to a C cup in just six months
• Golf the hole on a putting green, or the metal container in it: the ball bounced out of the cup

• 4 [mass noun] a mixed drink made from fruit juices and typically containing wine or cider: the bars offered large glasses of white wine cup a non-alcoholic fruit cup

• 5 (cups) one of the suits in a tarot pack.

verb (cups, cupping, cupped)

• 1form (one’s hand or hands) into the curved shape of a cup:‘Hey!’ Dad shouted, with his hands cupped around his mouth
• place the curved hand or hands around:he cupped her face in his hands

• 2 Medicine, historical bleed (someone) by using a glass in which a partial vacuum is formed by heating:Dr Ross ordered me to be cupped