# cookbook

/ˈkʊkˌbʊk/ (US) · /kˈʊkbʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cookbook
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. recipe book

noun · CEFR A2

a book that tells you how to prepare and cook different meals.

For teachers: a book containing recipes and instructions for the preparation of food.

- I bought a new Italian cookbook to learn how to make fresh pasta.
- The chef published a comprehensive cookbook that detailed the traditional techniques of Mediterranean cuisine for a modern audience.

### 2. a set of strategies

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a book or guide that gives you a step-by-step plan for doing something.

For teachers: a collection of procedures or strategies for achieving a specific result in a field other than cooking.

- The manager used a corporate cookbook to handle the company's rebranding.
- The software engineers followed a technical cookbook to ensure the server migration was completed without any data loss.

## Examples

- I bought a new cookbook to learn how to bake bread.
- She received a professional cookbook as a gift and spent the weekend testing a complex pasta recipe.
- While digital recipes are increasingly popular, many chefs still value the tactile experience and reliable measurements found in a classic, well-indexed cookbook.

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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.