Acup is a small, open container used for drinking liquids.[1][2] It may be made of wood, plastic, glass, clay, metal, stone, china or other materials.[3] It may have a stem or not. Cups are used for drinking across a wide range of cultures and social classes,[4] and different styles of cups may be used for different liquids or in different situations.[5]
Cups have been used for thousands of years for the purpose of carrying drinkable liquids, as well as for decoration.[6]
Culinary uses
Apart from serving as drinking vessels, cups can be used as an alternative to bowls as a receptacle for soup.[7]Cupcakes are formed by bakingcake batter in cup-shaped recesses of a metal sheet.
Names for different types of cups vary regionally and may overlap. While the term "beaker" is common in the United Kingdom, it is not used for drinkware in North America. Any transparent cup, regardless of actual composition, is likely to be called a "glass"; therefore, while a cup made of paper is a "paper cup", a transparent one for drinking shots is called a "shot glass", instead.
Cups for hot beverages
While in theory, most cups are well suited to hold drinkable liquids, hot drinks like tea are generally served in either insulated cups or porcelain teacups.
Cups have almost certainly been used since before recorded history, and have been found at archaeological digs throughout the world. In England, cups have been discovered by archeologists that date back to several thousand years BC, including the Rillaton Gold Cup. Cups were used in the Americas several centuries prior to the European arrivals.[8]
InMesopotamia, cups were used for a variety of purposes, possibly including the transportation and drinking of alcoholic beverages.[9] The Roman Empire led to the creation and spread of countless cups, including silver cups in Wales and a color-changing glass cup in ancient Thrace.[10][11]
Cups for monarchs
Historically, monarchs have been concerned about assassination via poisoning. To avoid this fate, they often used dedicated cups, with cup-bearers to guard them. A "divining cup" was supposed to be able to detect poison. In the Bible, Joseph interprets a dream for Pharaoh's cup-bearer,[12] and a silver divining cup plays a key role in his reconciliation with his brothers.
Some styles of cup are used primarily for alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and liquor.
There are over a dozen distinct styles of cups for drinking beer, depending on the precise variety of beer. The idea that a certain beer should be served in a cup of a certain shape may have been promulgated more for marketing purposes, but there very well may be some basis in fact behind it.[13]Wine glasses also come in different shapes, depending on the color and style of wine that is intended to be served in them.
A cup of wine played a critical role during the Last SupperofJesus and his disciples and continues to play a major part of Communion in many branches of Christianity.[15]
The cup game involves rhythmically striking plastic cups.[17]
Cultural significance of cups
Since cups have been an integral part of dining since time immemorial, they have become a valued part of human culture. The shape or image of a cup appears in various places in human cultures.
Sports trophies
Many trophies take the form of a cup, often a loving cup. In sports, competitions themselves often take on the name of the cup-shaped trophy awarded.
Many trophies take the form of a large, decorated cup. In the case of the FIFA World Cup or the Sprint Cup Series, the competition itself may grow to take on the name of the trophy that is awarded to the winner. Owing to the common usage of cup-shaped trophies as prizes for the winners, a large number of national and international competitions are called "cups".[18]
Tarot
InTarot divination, the suit of cups is associated with the element of water and is regarded as symbolizing emotion, intuition, and the soul.[19][20] Cards that feature cups are often associated with love, relationships, fears, and desires.[19][21]
Promotional cups
Cups are often distributed for promotional purposes. For example, a corporation might distribute cups with their logo at a trade show, or a city might hand out cups with slogans promoting recycling.
There are companies that provide the service of printing slogans on cups.[22]
Child development
Drinking from a cup is a significant step on a baby's path to becoming a toddler.[23][24]
Sippy cups are sometimes used for this transition.
