cooking
cooking
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "cooking" is /ˈkʊkɪŋ/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
ˈkʊ:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ʊ/: Near-close near-back rounded vowel (as in "put")
kɪŋ:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ɪ/: Near-close near-front unrounded vowel (as in "kit")
/ŋ/: Velar nasal (as in "sing")
Word Form Variations
"Cooking" primarily functions as a noun and a verb (specifically, the present participle of "cook"). It also has a less common use as an adjective.
Noun Forms:
Singular: cooking (e.g., "Cooking is my favorite hobby.")
Plural: cookings (less common, typically refers to specific instances or types of cooking; e.g., "The different cookings demonstrated varied techniques.")
Verb Forms (Present Participle):
Present Participle: cooking (e.g., "She is cooking dinner.")
Base Form (from which it's derived): cook (e.g., "I love to cook.")
Third-person singular present: cooks (e.g., "He cooks well.")
Past tense: cooked (e.g., "They cooked a feast.")
Past participle: cooked (e.g., "The food was cooked.")
Adjective Forms:
Positive: cooking (e.g., "I need a cooking pot.")
(No comparative or superlative forms for "cooking" as an adjective)
Related Forms:
Noun: cook (e.g., "He is a good cook.")
Noun: cooker (e.g., "We bought a new cooker.")
Adjective: cooked (e.g., "The cooked vegetables were soft.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun Definitions
The practice or skill of preparing food by applying heat.
Synonyms: Cuisine, gastronomy, culinary art, food preparation, baking, grilling
Antonyms: Eating, consumption (activities related to food after cooking), raw food preparation
(Informal) Illicit or deceptive activity, especially involving financial accounts or information.
Synonyms: Manipulation, fraud, falsification, doctoring (of accounts), rigging
Antonyms: Honesty, transparency, integrity, accuracy
Verb Definitions (as Present Participle of "cook")
(Of a person) Preparing food by heating it, often involving various methods like baking, frying, boiling, or roasting.
Synonyms: Preparing, baking, frying, boiling, roasting, grilling, simmering
Antonyms: Eating, serving (actions after preparation), cooling, spoiling
(Of a food or dish) Being prepared by heat.
Synonyms: Simmering, baking, frying, boiling, roasting (in progress)
Antonyms: Raw, uncooked, cooling
(Informal) Deliberately manipulating or falsifying data or accounts.
Synonyms: Manipulating, rigging, doctoring, falsifying, tampering with
Antonyms: Being honest, being transparent, presenting accurately
Adjective Definitions
Used for or capable of being used for cooking.
Synonyms: Culinary, kitchen (as in "kitchen utensils"), bakeware, cookware
Antonyms: Serving (as in "serving dish"), storage (as in "storage container")
Examples of Use
Books
"Like all successful recipes, life requires patience and a passion for the art of cooking." (Often found in cookbooks or self-help books)
"The aroma of his mother's cooking always filled the house, bringing a sense of comfort and home." (Common in memoirs or family-centric novels)
Newspapers and Online Publications
"Plant-based cooking is gaining popularity as more people adopt vegan and vegetarian diets." (The New York Times)
"Investigators suspect the company engaged in creative cooking of the books to inflate their profits." (The Wall Street Journal)
"Learn essential tips for outdoor cooking on your next camping trip." (Outside Magazine)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: In Julie & Julia (2009), the protagonist embarks on a year-long challenge to try every recipe in Julia Child's cookbook, a film essentially about cooking.
Television: "Welcome to the grand finale of our cooking competition, where two chefs battle for the golden whisk!" (Heard on popular reality cooking shows like MasterChef)
Music: Many songs refer to cooking as a metaphor for creating or making something special, or the warmth of home.
Video Games: Cooking is a common mechanic in many role-playing games, where players gather ingredients and combine them to create food for buffs or health recovery.
General Public Discourse
"What's your favorite type of cooking?" (Everyday conversation about food preferences)
"I'm doing all the cooking for Thanksgiving this year." (Discussing meal preparation for holidays)
"There's something suspicious about those numbers; I think someone's been cooking the books." (Informal accusation of financial manipulation)
"He's a natural at cooking; everything he makes tastes amazing." (Praising someone's culinary skills)
10 Quotes Using Cooking
"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can." (Danny Kaye) - This quote, while not using "cooking," implies a creative process similar to cooking up new experiences.
"The art of cooking is to turn simple ingredients into something extraordinary." (Unknown, common culinary sentiment)
"I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food." (W.C. Fields, a classic humorous quote)
"You don't need a silver fork to eat good food." (Paul Prudhomme) - This implies that quality cooking transcends fancy utensils.
"My favorite part about cooking is sharing the meal with friends and family." (Original)
"There's no better feeling than seeing someone enjoy your cooking." (Original)
"Good cooking is like a symphony; all the ingredients play their part in harmony." (Original)
"He was caught cooking the books, altering financial records to hide losses." (Common phrase in business news)
"What's cooking, good looking?" (Informal, playful greeting)
"The secret to great cooking is often patience and a willingness to experiment." (Original)
Etymology
The word "cooking" comes from the verb "cook," and the suffix "-ing," which is used to form nouns indicating an activity or process. So, "cooking" refers to the activity or process of preparing food by applying heat.
The verb "cook" itself has a longer history, tracing back to the Old English word "cōc" (meaning a cook) and further to the Latin word "coquere" (to cook).
The first known use of "cooking" as a noun in English, appearing around the late 14th century, referred to the art or practice of preparing food. This primary meaning has remained central to the word ever since. The informal sense of "cooking the books" (manipulating accounts) developed much later, in the 20th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cooking
Cooking oil: Oil used for frying, baking, or other food preparation.
Example: "We ran out of cooking oil; I need to buy some."
Cooking class: A lesson or course where people learn how to prepare food.
Example: "She signed up for an Italian cooking class."
Cooking wine: Wine specifically used in food preparation to add flavor.
Example: "This recipe calls for a splash of cooking wine."
Cooking spray: A spray used to prevent food from sticking to pans.
Example: "Don't forget the cooking spray before you put the cake in the oven."
Cooking up a storm: Preparing a large or elaborate meal with great enthusiasm.
Example: "She's in the kitchen, cooking up a storm for the party."
What's cooking?: (Informal idiom) What's happening? What's going on?
Example: "Hey, what's cooking? Any news?"
Cooking the books: (Informal idiom) Illegally altering financial records to deceive.
Example: "The CEO was accused of cooking the books to hide the company's debt."
Whipping up a meal: (Using a synonym, meaning to prepare a meal quickly).
Example: "I can whip up a meal in no time if you're hungry."
Food preparation: (A more formal synonym for cooking).
Example: "Hygiene is crucial during food preparation."
Getting things simmering: (An original phrase, implying the start of a process, similar to the initial stage of cooking).
Example: "We're just getting things simmering on the new project."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cooking from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
