cook
- 01 A1 Beginner
v.to prepare food for eating by using heat.
v.to prepare food for consumption by applying heat, typically through boiling, baking, or frying. Ambitransitive usage is standard.
Simple“I usually cook dinner for my family after I get home from work.”
In context“She preferred to cook with fresh, locally sourced ingredients rather than relying on pre-packaged convenience foods.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to feel very hot, usually because of the weather or a room with no air.
v.to be subjected to or experience uncomfortably high temperatures. Figurative and typically intransitive.
Simple“We were cooking in that small car because the air conditioning stopped working.”
In context“The commuters were left to cook on the platform for forty minutes during the record-breaking heatwave.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to change facts or numbers dishonestly to make a situation look better than it is.
v.to manipulate or falsify information, particularly financial records. Often appears in the phrase 'cook the books'.
Simple“The manager was fired after the owners discovered he was trying to cook the books.”
In context“The investigation revealed that the firm had been cooking its accounts for years to hide massive losses from its shareholders.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to do something, like playing music, with a lot of energy and skill.
v.to perform or proceed with intense energy, rhythm, or excitement. Originally from jazz register.
Simple“The band really started to cook during the second half of the show.”
In context“Once the drummer found the pocket, the entire ensemble began to cook, delivering a performance that left the audience breathless.”
- 05 A1 Beginner
n.a person who prepares and cooks food as a job or for fun.
n.a person who prepares food for eating. Unlike 'chef', this term does not necessarily imply professional training or a high rank in a kitchen.
Simple“My brother is a great cook and always makes a special meal on Sundays.”
In context“The restaurant hired a new short-order cook to handle the increased demand during the busy breakfast shift.”
PitfallMy father is a very good cooker. My father is a very good cook.A 'cook' is a person. A 'cooker' is the machine or appliance you use to heat the food.
Synonyms
Usage cook food
From cook. Doublet of Koch and Kok.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.