# cupid

/ˈkjupɪd/ (US) · /kjˈuːpɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cupid
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the god of love

noun · CEFR B2

the Roman god of love, usually shown as a small boy with wings who shoots arrows to make people fall in love.

For teachers: the Roman deity of desire and erotic love, identified with the Greek god Eros and typically depicted as a winged boy carrying a bow.

- In the old story, Cupid shoots an arrow at the prince to make him fall in love with the princess.
- The myth of Cupid and Psyche remains one of the most enduring allegories of the soul's journey toward divine love in classical literature.

### 2. artistic figure

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a statue or painting of a winged baby, often used to represent love.

For teachers: a representation of the god Cupid in art, specifically a putto depicted with a bow and arrow.

- The ceiling of the ballroom was decorated with paintings of tiny cupids holding flowers.
- The fountain was adorned with several marble cupids, each positioned to spray water toward the central basin.

### 3. moon of Uranus

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small moon that travels around the planet Uranus.

For teachers: an inner satellite of the planet Uranus, discovered in 2003 by the Hubble Space Telescope.

- Scientists discovered Cupid, a tiny moon of Uranus, using a very powerful telescope.
- Cupid is the smallest of the inner Uranian satellites, and its orbit is so close to Belinda that the two may eventually collide.

## Examples

- The Valentine's Day card was covered in tiny cupids.
- She played the role of cupid for her two best friends, eventually seeing them get married.
- The ceiling of the ballroom was adorned with intricate frescoes of cupids and floral garlands, reflecting the romantic sensibilities of the late Baroque period.

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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.