cooking
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the activity of preparing food by heating it.
n.the process or activity of preparing food for consumption, typically involving the application of heat.
Simple“My brother does most of the cooking in our house because he enjoys it.”
In context“While some people find daily cooking a chore, others view the preparation of a complex meal as a therapeutic creative outlet.”
Synonymscuisinefood preparation - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a particular style or quality of food.
n.the style or quality of food prepared, often associated with a specific region or person.
Simple“I really love my grandmother's home cooking.”
In context“The restaurant is famous for its traditional French cooking, which relies heavily on fresh butter and seasonal herbs.”
- 03 A2 Elementary
adj.describing something used for making food.
adj.intended for or used in the preparation of food; often used as an attributive modifier.
Simple“We need to buy some new cooking oil and a large pot.”
In context“The chef insisted on using professional-grade cooking utensils to ensure the heat was distributed evenly across the pan.”
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.happening or being planned right now.
adj.in progress or being planned; typically used in the phrase 'what's cooking'.
Simple“You all look very busy; what's cooking?”
In context“The marketing team has been very quiet lately, leading many to wonder what kind of new campaign is cooking behind closed doors.”
From cook + -ing. The noun and adjective follow from the verb. The use of the word cooking to describe cheap bitter was popularized by the title character of the BBC sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt (1974-1978). It refers to cooking sherry, a kind of sherry used in cooking but not suitable for drinking on its own.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.