sup

¹ American  

[suhp] / sʌp /

Or 'sup

interjection

Slang.

1. wassup.

---

sup ² American  

[suhp] / sʌp /

verb (used without object)

supped, supping

1. to eat the evening meal; have supper.

---

verb (used with object)

supped, supping

1. to provide with or entertain at supper.

sup ³ American  

[suhp] / sʌp /

verb (used with object)

supped, supping

1. to take (liquid food, or any liquid) into the mouth in small quantities, as from a spoon or cup; sip.

---

verb (used without object)

supped, supping

1. to take liquid into the mouth in small quantities, as by spoonfuls or sips.

noun

1. a mouthful or small portion of drink or liquid food; sip.

sup ⁴ American  

[soop] / sup /

noun

Mathematics.

1. supremum. See least upper bound.

---

sup- ⁵ American  

1. variant of sub- before p:

   suppose.

---

sup. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. superior.

2. superlative.

3. supine.

4. supplement.

5. supplementary.

6. supply.

7. supra.

---

sup ¹ British  

/ sʌp /

verb

1. to partake of (liquid) by swallowing a little at a time

2. dialect to drink

---

noun

1. a sip

sup. ² British  

abbreviation

1. above

2. superior

3. grammar superlative

---

sup ³ British  

/ sʌp /

verb

1. archaic (intr) to have supper

2. obsolete (tr) to provide with supper

---

Etymology

Origin of sup¹

First recorded in 1985–90; by shortening

Origin of sup²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English s(o)upen, soupe, from Old French souper “to take supper,” from Germanic; compare Old English sūpan “to swallow, taste, sip”; sup ³

Origin of sup³

First recorded before 900; Middle English s(o)uppen, soup(p)e, Old English sūpan; cognate with German saufen “to drink”; sip, sop, soup, sup ²

Origin of sup⁴

First recorded in 1940–45; by shortening

Explanation

To sup is to eat slowly, by spoonfuls. When you eat soup, you probably sup it. You can really only sup soft foods and liquids, like oatmeal and milkshakes and miso soup. A sick person taking gingerly spoons of Jello into his mouth can be said to sup, and so can a hesitant baby eating tiny bites of pureed carrots. Sup essentially means "sip," and its root is the Old English sūpan, "to sip or swallow."

Example Sentences

Now, there is only three years to go until the pub rises again and thirsty regulars can sup a beer — or two.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2024

The door has been left ajar, funnelling an icy breeze into the bar where a small group of members sup pints.

From BBC • Dec. 10, 2023

How can I best sup port my girlfriend?

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2021

Some morsels are just too delicious for journalists and pundits not to sup on.

From New York Times • Nov. 2, 2018

“May I offer you both some sup and drink that we might be better acquainted?”

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson