cooking

American  

[kook-ing] / ˈkʊk ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that cooks.

2. the art or practice of preparing food; cookery.

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adjective

1. used in preparing foods.

   All of my cooking utensils are packed, so I had to order pizza.

2. suited for use in cooked food.

   The Golden Delicious is our favorite cooking apple, especially for applesauce.

Other Word Forms

• self-cooking
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cooking

First recorded in 1635–45; cook ¹ + -ing ¹ for the noun senses; cook ¹ + -ing ² for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cooking

The website became known as a pop culture hub, where readers could indulge in the latest celebrity gossip or discover a unique cooking recipe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

“Settlers arrived with national foods, preparation and cooking methods,” says Venner.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

But Hāngī is arguably the most famous Māori cooking technique.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

And TV offers more cooking shows than a fruitcake offers nuts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Oversized cooking pots sat empty on unlit stoves, ready for the process of turning coconut milk into oil the next day.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

Related Words

• cookery
• cuisine
• culinary art
• culinary science