cooking /ˈkʊkɪŋ/noun 6adjective 3forms 1phrases 2 noun6 •the activity of making food ready to eat by heating itThe cooking took a long time. Fionn built a spit from the ash that the salmon had knocked down. — 1995 •(rare) An instance of preparing food by using heat.In the tiny kitchen a dozen men and a boy tried to hush their breathing, and sweltered. For it was very hot, and the pent-up odor of past cookings was stifling to men used to the open — 1904 •The result of preparing food by using heat. •One's ability to prepare food; cookery.My cooking isn't very good. I don't have any idea how to prepare a good meal.I missed my mum's cooking while I was at university. •The style or genre of food preparation.What you've produced is a perfect example of authentic Chinese cooking. •The cheapest available beer for sale in a public house.‘Pint of bitter, please,” said Reggie. ‘Pint of cooking,” said the landlord. — 2009 adjective3 •Designed or suitable for culinary purposes.I filled the cooking pot with water, and poured some cooking sherry into the skillet.This tree bears cooking apples. •Cheap; better suited for use in recipes than drinking.Bone a shoulder of mutton and lay in the following pickle for 24 hours, viz.:…half pint of cooking claret…and long peppers. — 1885 •(informal) In progress, happening.The project took a few days to gain momentum, but by the end of the week, things were really cooking. formscookings Phrases with cooking cooking with gasFunctioning particularly effectively; achieving something substantial. what's cookingA greeting, similar to how are you?; what's happening?; what's up?; what's new?
