A1noun 1K

Cooking

UK /["/ˈkʊkɪŋ/"]/ US /["/ˈkʊkɪŋ/"]/ Pronunciation

Definition

the process of preparing food by heating it

Listen to definition

In simple words: The act of preparing food by using heat.

Examples

• I love cooking Italian food on weekends.
• Cooking can be a very relaxing activity for some people.
• Her cooking skills have improved a lot this year.
• He enjoys cooking for his friends during holidays.
• Cooking helps me forget about my problems.

Usage notes

Used in everyday conversations and contexts related to food. Appropriate for both casual and formal discussions about food preparation.

Grammar pattern

cooking + object

Memory hint

Think of 'cook-ing' as 'cook' in action, like someone stirring a pot on the stove.

Collocations

• good
• gourmet
• great
• do
• oil
• show
• during cooking
• in cooking
• good
• gourmet
• great
• do
• oil
• show
• during cooking
• in cooking

Synonyms

• preparing
• baking
• frying
• boiling
• grilling

Antonyms

• burning
• raw

Common mistakes

• Confusing 'cooking' with 'cook' — remember 'cooking' describes the process, while 'cook' is a person or verb.
• Saying 'cooking food' when 'cooking' alone is sufficient.
• Misusing tense forms — ensure to match 'cooking' with the correct auxiliary verbs.