cook
gb/kˈʊk/ us/kˈʊk/
A1
English
~ 2400
főz, szakács, hasít, beindul, pörög
VERB
A1
1
főz
A1
Usage pattern:
to cook [food] [in/on/with something]
She loves to cook Italian dishes for her friends.
Szeret olasz ételeket főzni a barátainak.
I usually cook rice in a pot on the stove.
Általában lábasban, a tűzhelyen főzöm a rizst.
They cooked the vegetables until they were soft.
He cooked breakfast for the whole family.
We decided to cook our own dinner instead of ordering out.
Learner examples
I cook rice every day.
Minden nap rizst főzök.
My mother cooks soup for lunch.
Anyukám levest főz ebédre.
We cook fish in the kitchen.
He cooks eggs in the pan.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cook' with 'bake' or 'boil'; remember that 'cook' is more general and includes all heating methods.
Meaning
Prepare food with heat
Collocations
cook dinner
|cook rice
|cook a meal
|cook on the stove
|cook from scratch
Synonyms
prepare (More general; can refer to making food without heat.)
|
bake (Refers specifically to cooking in an oven with dry heat.)
Antonyms
eat raw (Describes consuming food without cooking it.)
Themes
daily life
|food
|home
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
To make food ready to eat by using heat.
To prepare food by heating it in a particular way, such as by boiling, baking, frying, or roasting.
NOUN
A1
2
szakács
A2
The cook prepared a delicious three-course meal.
A szakács finom háromfogásos ételt készített.
She works as a cook in a busy restaurant.
Szakácsként dolgozik egy forgalmas étteremben.
Our camp had a talented cook who could make anything taste great.
He hired a cook to help with the party.
The head cook supervised the kitchen staff.
Learner examples
The cook makes food in the kitchen.
A szakács ételt készít a konyhában.
My aunt is a good cook.
A nagynéném jó szakács.
The cook works in a hotel.
We talked to the cook after dinner.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'cook' (noun) with 'chef'; 'chef' usually implies formal training and higher status in professional kitchens.
Meaning
Person who cooks food
Collocations
professional cook
|good cook
|head cook
|home cook
Synonyms
chef (Often refers to a highly trained professional cook, especially in restaurants.)
Antonyms
diner (Refers to someone who eats the food, not prepares it.)
Themes
daily life
|food
|jobs
|food_drink
|work
Definition
Someone who makes food ready to eat, especially as a job.
A person whose job or role is to prepare and cook food.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
3
The project is really cooking now that we got funding.
Most, hogy megkaptuk a támogatást, a projekt igazán beindult.
Once we fixed the engine, the car was cooking down the highway.
Miután megjavítottuk a motort, az autó csak úgy hasított az autópályán.
Our plan was cooking until we hit an unexpected problem.
Learner examples
The game is cooking now.
Most már igazán pörög a játék.
Our team is cooking after the break.
A csapatunk a szünet után nagyon beindult.
The show is cooking tonight.
Common mistake:
Learners may interpret this literally as related to food; in informal contexts, it means progressing well or quickly.
Meaning
Develop or go well quickly
Collocations
really cooking now
|things are cooking
Synonyms
progress (More formal; does not carry the energetic connotation.)
Antonyms
stall (Means to slow down or stop progress.)
Themes
informal speech
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To happen or move fast and well (informal).
(Informal) To proceed or develop quickly, successfully, or with energy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cook
IPA
GB/kˈʊk/
US/kˈʊk/
Syllables & stress
cook (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cook)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: cook
- Plural: cooks
Verb
- Base: cook
- 3rd Person Singular: cooks
- Present Participle: cooking
- Past: cooked
Word family
Forms
cooks
noun
cooking
verb
cooked
verb
Core family
cooker
noun A2
Related words
cookbook
noun
cookery
noun
Negative and opposite forms
uncooked
adjective
Advanced or less common
overcook
verb
undercook
verb
Expressions
cook out
1/kˈʊk ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Cook and eat outside on a grill
To make and eat food outside, often on a grill or barbecue.
Examples
- We're going to cook out by the lake this weekend.
- They cooked out in the backyard for the holiday.
cook the books
1/kˈʊk ðə bˈʊks/
idiom
informal
Falsify financial records
To change financial numbers dishonestly to hide the truth.
Examples
- The manager was arrested for cooking the books.
- They cooked the books to make the company look profitable.
cook up
1/kˈʊk ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
informal
Invent or plan something secretly
To make or plan something, often secretly or not honestly.
Examples
- They cooked up a plan to surprise their friend.
- He cooked up an excuse for being late.
too many cooks spoil the broth
1/tˈu mˈɛni kˈʊks spˈɔɪl ðə bɹˈɔθ/
idiom
Too many people can ruin a task
If too many people work on the same thing, it might not turn out well.
Examples
- We had five designers on one small project—too many cooks spoil the broth.
- Let's keep the team small; too many cooks spoil the broth.
what's cooking?
1/wˈʌts kˈʊkɪŋ ‖/
fixed phrase
informal
What is happening now?
A friendly way to ask what is happening or what someone is doing.
Examples
- Hey, what's cooking? Anything fun today?
- What's cooking at work these days?