# baking

/ˈbeɪkɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈeɪkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/baking
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the activity of cooking

noun · CEFR A2

the activity or hobby of making food like bread, cakes, and cookies in an oven.

For teachers: the process or occupation of cooking food by dry heat in an oven. Uncountable when referring to the activity in general.

- I spent the whole Sunday afternoon baking for the school charity sale.
- Artisanal baking has seen a significant resurgence as consumers increasingly seek out traditional sourdough and heritage grain products.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun to describe the hobby or the general process.

### 2. a batch of food

noun · CEFR B1

a single time you bake a group of items, or the items themselves.

For teachers: the production of a specific batch of baked goods. Countable in the sense of a single event or output.

- The first baking of the morning was ready by six o'clock.
- The bakery's second baking of the day focuses exclusively on baguettes and specialty rolls for the lunch rush.

### 3. very hot

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

extremely hot, especially when talking about the weather or a room.

For teachers: extremely hot; used figuratively to describe intense heat from the sun or a lack of ventilation.

- It was a baking hot day, so we decided to go to the beach.
- The office was baking by mid-afternoon because the air conditioning system had failed during the heatwave.

## Examples

- I enjoy baking fresh bread on Sunday mornings.
- The kitchen was filled with the warm, sweet aroma of holiday baking as the cookies cooled on the counter.
- While professional baking requires precise measurements and an understanding of chemical leavening agents, many home cooks find the rhythmic nature of kneading dough to be a therapeutic escape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.