Definition cup

Etymology

From Middle English cuppe, coppe, from Old English cuppe (“cup”), from Late Latin cuppa, probably a form of Latin cūpa (“tub”), from Proto-Indo-European *kewp- (“a hollow”). Reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman cupe, from the same Latin source. Compare Saterland Frisian Kop (“cup”), West Frisian kop, Dutch kop (“cup”), German Low German Koppke, Köppke (“cup”), German Kopf (“head; top”), Danish kop, Swedish kopp.

Noun

cup (plural cups)

1. A concave vessel for drinking from, usually made of opaque material (as opposed to a glass) and with a handle.
2. The contents of said vessel; a cupful.
3. A customary unit of measure
   1. (US) A US unit of liquid measure equal to 8 fluid ounces (1/16 of a US gallon; 236.5882365 mL) or 240 mL.
   2. (Canada) A Canadian unit of measure equal to 8 imperial ounces (1/20 imperial gallon; 227.3 mL) or 250 mL.
   3. (Britain, dated) A British unit of measure equal to 0.5 imperial pints (10 imperial ounces; 284 mL) or 300mL.
4. A trophy in the shape of an oversized cup.
5. A contest for which a cup is awarded.
6. (soccer) The main knockout tournament in a country, organised alongside the league.
7. (golf) A cup-shaped object placed in the target hole.
8. (in combination) Any of various sweetened alcoholic drinks.
9. (US, Canada) A rigid concave protective covering for the male genitalia. (for UK usage see box)
10. One of the two parts of a brassiere which each cover a breast, used as a measurement of size.
11. (mathematics) The symbol ${\displaystyle \cup }$ denoting union and similar operations (confer cap).
12. A suit of the minor arcana in tarot, or one of the cards from the suit.
13. (ultimate frisbee) A defensive style characterized by a three player near defense cupping the thrower; or those three players.
14. A flexible concave membrane used to temporarily attach a handle or hook to a flat surface by means of suction (suction cup).
15. Anything shaped like a cup.
16. (medicine, historical) A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping.
17. That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion of blessings and afflictions.