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

There were celebrity chefs reinventing Ukrainian cooking to create haute cuisine based on traditional dishes—and using only ingredients grown in Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Back then, he and his family – like millions of other Afghans - received food aid: flour, cooking oil, lentils and supplements for children.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

"There is no way I could have ended it better than this. I want to have some more babies and I have to get cooking," added Rousey.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

The property’s main restaurant, Night Hawk, is Mediterranean, with cooking by open fire, a Greek ruins vibe and seating for about 150.

From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026

Aunt Melissa insists on cooking a celebratory my-brother-is-no-longer.unemployed dinner for Dad.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• cookery
• cuisine
• culinary art
• culinary science