Cook

/kʊk/

Meaning & Definition

noun
a person who prepares and cooks food, especially as a job.
The cook prepared a delicious meal for the guests.
a device or appliance used for cooking food.
I just bought a new electric cook for my kitchen.
verb
to prepare food by heating it.
I like to cook pasta for dinner.
to work as a cook or chef.
She cooks in a five-star restaurant.
to deceive or manipulate someone by dishonest means.
He tried to cook the books to hide the company's losses.

Etymology

Middle English 'coken', from Old English 'coc', which comes from Latin 'cocus', meaning 'a cook'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

cook the books
To falsify financial records.
cook up a storm
To prepare a lot of food or to cook enthusiastically.
slow cook
To cook food slowly at low temperatures.
cook someone's goose
To ruin someone's plans or chances.

Related Words

culinary
Related to cooking or the kitchen.
bake
To cook food using dry heat in an oven.
grill
To cook food over direct heat, typically on a grill.
sauté
To cook food quickly in a small amount of fat or oil.

Slang Meanings

To distort information or data.
He really cooked the story to make it more exciting.
To perform a cooking action with enthusiasm.
Let's go cook up something delicious this weekend.