cook
/kʊk/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈʊk] /kʊk/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈʊk] /ˈku̇k/ (ame, mw)
cook — verb
- cookpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cookshe / she / it
- cookedpast simple
- cooking-ing form
1. to make food ready to eat by using heat — for example by frying, boiling, or bak
to make food ready to eat by using heat — for example by frying, boiling, or baking in an oven
Tamar learned to cook rice and vegetables from her grandmother in Seoul.
cook + food item (rice and vegetables)
The chicken needs to cook in the oven for about forty minutes.
intransitive: food + cook + time + place
Caleb offered to cook dinner for his colleagues after the late meeting.
Liang was cooking chicken soup for his sick neighbour when it started to rain.
The vegetables are cooking slowly in a large pot of boiling water on the stove.
文法句型
cook + food/meal
cook + for + person
cook + person + food/meal
food + cooks (intransitive)
用法筆記
Used both transitively (cook food) and intransitively (the rice cooks). A second object can follow: cook someone a meal.
常見錯誤
2. to change numbers, records, or test results dishonestly in order to deceive peop
to change numbers, records, or test results dishonestly in order to deceive people
The accountant was caught cooking the company's financial records last year.
cook + financial records (dishonest use)
Sayaka discovered that someone had cooked the test scores to make them appear higher.
cooked + test scores (past participle)
Investigators found evidence that the manager had cooked the numbers to hide losses.
Politicians who cook election data face serious legal consequences in many countries.
- falsify
more formal and general; used in legal and official contexts
- doctor
informal; suggests small dishonest changes
- tamper with
emphasises secretly interfering with something; can apply to physical objects too
文法句型
cook + financial records / accounts / results
用法筆記
Frequently used in past participle form (cooked books, cooked records). The object is typically financial records, accounts, test results, or data.
常見錯誤
3. used in casual conversation to ask what is happening or being planned
used in casual conversation to ask what is happening or being planned
Tamar asked her colleagues what was cooking for the office holiday party.
what + was + cooking (asking about plans)
Nobody at the lab seemed to know what was cooking with the new research project.
Hey Caleb, what's cooking at your apartment this Saturday night?
We called the venue to find out what was cooking for the wedding reception.
文法句型
what + is/was + cooking
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the phrase 'what's / what was cooking'. Does NOT refer to food preparation in this sense. Used only in informal spoken or casual written contexts.
常見錯誤
4. to be performing or progressing with great energy and skill
to be performing or progressing with great energy and skill
The jazz band was really cooking at the concert hall last Friday night.
subject (band) + was cooking (performing well)
Once the team started cooking in the second half, they scored three quick goals.
Christopher's new restaurant is really cooking this year with customers coming from all over town.
The development team was really cooking on the new app interface last week.
文法句型
subject + is/was + cooking
用法筆記
Typically used in continuous progressive forms (is cooking, was cooking, has been cooking). The subject is usually a performer, group, or business entity. Not used in formal writing.
常見錯誤
cook — noun
- cooksingular
- cooksplural
1. a person whose job or role is to prepare food by heating it
a person whose job or role is to prepare food by heating it
Liam works as a cook at an Italian restaurant near the train station.
works as a cook (job role)
Adaeze is an excellent cook who learned her recipes from her aunt in Lagos.
adjective + cook: an excellent cook
The head cook decided to add more fresh vegetables to the lunch menu this week.
Jiwoo wants to become a professional cook after finishing culinary school.
Reema is not a very good cook, but she is trying hard to improve.
- chef
more formal and professional; a chef usually has formal training and manages a kitchen, while a cook may not
- kitchen staff
refers to all people who work in a kitchen, not just those who cook
文法句型
a + adjective + cook
用法筆記
Commonly used with an adjective to describe skill level: a good cook, an excellent cook, a terrible cook. Do not confuse with 'cooker', which is a kitchen appliance.