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soup

n. C / U
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈsup// UK //sˈuːp// soup Archaic General-service Informal Slang

n. a liquid food made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables in water. It is usually served warm in a bowl.

n. a liquid food preparation, typically made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables in a stock or water. Often served as a first course or a main meal.


SIMPLE

I like to eat hot tomato soup on cold days.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef prepares a fresh vegetable soup every morning using ingredients from the local market.

COMPLEX

While clear broths are often served as light starters, thicker soups containing legumes or grains provide enough nutritional density to function as a complete meal.

Etymology 1

The noun is from Middle English soupe, sowpe, from Old French soupe, souppe, sope, from Late Latin suppa (“sopped bread”), from Proto-Germanic *supô (compare Middle Dutch sope (“broth”)). Doublet of sop and zuppa. See also sup and supper. The verb is from the noun.

Etymology 2

From Middle English soupen, from Old English sūpan (“to sup, sip”), from Proto-Germanic *sūpaną. More at sup.

Etymology 3

From Middle English soupe, from Old English sūpe (“sup; draught”).

Etymology 4

From Middle English swopen, from Old English swāpan (“to sweep”), from Proto-Germanic *swaipaną (“to sweep”). More at sweep.

Etymology 5

From Middle English soupen, suppen, from Anglo-Norman super, from supe, soupe (“soup”) + -er (verb-forming suffix).

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the food in general; countable when referring to specific types or individual servings.

Idioms3 entries

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