a small, bowl-shaped container for drinking from, typically having a handle, a unit of measurement for liquid or dry ingredients, equal to half a pint or 8 fluid ounces in the US and about 10 fluid ounces in the UK, a trophy or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success

runneth over, raise a cup to someone, not one's cup of tea

a cup of tea, a world cup, a cup of coffee

Formal and Informal Expressions of cup

In different contexts, you can replace 'cup' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'container, vessel' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'mug, beaker' is a commonplace synonym.

cup: Explore its Definition & Usage

cup Definition

1a small, bowl-shaped container for drinking from, typically having a handle
2a unit of measurement for liquid or dry ingredients, equal to half a pint or 8 fluid ounces in the US and about 10 fluid ounces in the UK
3a trophy or other decorative object awarded as a prize for a victory or success

Using cup: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cup" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
She poured some tea into her cup.
Example
I need two cups of flour for this recipe.
Example
The team won the championship cup.
Example
He received a silver cup for his achievement.

cup Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for cup

Idioms Using cup

runneth over
to have more than enough of something, often used in the context of blessings or good fortune
Example
My cup runneth over with happiness and love.
raise a cup to someone
to propose a toast in honor of someone or something
Example
Let's raise a cup to the newlyweds!
not one's cup of tea
not something that one enjoys or is interested in
Example
I'm sorry, but horror movies are just not my cup of tea.

Phrases with cup

a cup of tea
something that one enjoys or is particularly good at
Example
Playing chess is not really my cup of tea.
a world cup
an international soccer tournament held every four years
Example
The World Cup is the most prestigious soccer tournament in the world.
a cup of coffee
a casual meeting between two people, usually for a short period of time
Example
Let's have a quick cup of coffee and discuss the details.

Origins of cup

from Middle English 'cuppe', from Old English 'copp', probably from Late Latin 'cuppa', possibly from Latin 'cucupa', a word of unknown origin

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Summary: cup in Brief

A 'cup' [kʌp] is a small, bowl-shaped container for drinking from, often with a handle. It is also a unit of measurement for liquid or dry ingredients, and a trophy or decorative object awarded for a victory or success. Phrases like 'a cup of tea' and idioms like 'raise a cup to someone' add to its versatility.