Word
cookie
Phoneticscook·ie, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkʊki/
UK/kˈʊki/
Definitions
01baked snack
A1 · Beginner Countable noun American English
n. a small, flat, sweet cake that is usually crisp or soft.
n. a small, flat, baked confection, typically sweet and often containing ingredients such as chocolate chips or nuts.
“He baked a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies for the party.”
“The bakery specializes in artisanal cookies made with organic flour and locally sourced honey.”
Synonyms
02internet data
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a small file that a website puts on your computer to remember your settings or what you like.
n. a small piece of data sent from a website and stored on the user's computer by the web browser while the user is browsing.
“You need to enable cookies in your browser to stay logged into the site.”
“Modern privacy regulations require websites to obtain explicit consent before deploying non-essential tracking cookies on a visitor's device.”
Synonyms
03a person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a person of a particular type, usually used with an adjective like 'tough' or 'smart'.
n. a person of a specified kind, typically used in idiomatic expressions to describe character.
“My grandmother is one tough cookie; she still lives alone at ninety.”
“The lead negotiator was known for being a sharp cookie who could spot a hidden clause from a mile away.”
Synonyms
04to track a user
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
v. to send a small data file to a user's computer to track their activity.
v. to store a cookie on a user's computer or to track a user via such data.
“The site cookies every visitor to show them personalized ads later.”
“The marketing firm was criticized for its aggressive strategy of cookying users across multiple third-party domains without clear disclosure.”
Usage
In its computing sense, it is almost always used in the plural when discussing general web tracking.
Confusables
Biscuit refers to a hard, dry cracker in British English, while cookie refers to a soft, sweet treat in American English.
RememberBritish Biscuits are brittle; American Cookies are chewy.
Real-World Examples
“It helped develop its Gluten Free Golden Oreo cookies and a refreshed recipe for Chips Ahoy cookies, the firm said.” “When users browsing Shein's French site opted out of cookies - small files that allow websites and advertisers to identify individual users and track their browsing habits - some were still found to be placed on the user's computer regardless, the commission said in a statement detailing a test it conducted on the site in August 2023.” “Cookies are small pieces of code that websites deliver to a visitor's browser.” “Cookies produced from upcycled plastic may sound like something straight out of a dystopian sci-fi plot.” Etymology
From Dutch koekie, a dialectal diminutive of koek ("cake"), itself from Proto-Germanic kōkô. The cognates run through German Low German Kookje ("biscuit, cookie, cracker"), Low German Kook ("cake"), and German Kuchen ("cake"). The English word cook is not related; the resemblance is a false friend.
The computing senses arrived separately, derived from the term magic cookie.
From cook + -ie, a Scottish diminutive suffix, attested from the early 18th century. The formation parallels sweetie and dearie, treating the biscuit as something small and companionable.
Corruption of cucoloris.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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