<p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to prepare (food) by the use of heat, as by boiling, baking, or roasting.</li><li>to subject (anything) to the application of heat.</li><li>Slang: to ruin; spoil.</li><li>to process (computer programming code or other digital data) for use in an executable file format.</li><li>Slang: to falsify, as accounts: to cook the expense figures.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to prepare food by the use of heat.</li><li>(of food) to undergo cooking.</li><li>Slang: to be full of activity and excitement: Las Vegas cooks around the clock.</li><li>to perform, work, or do in just the right way and with energy and enthusiasm: That new drummer is really cooking tonight.</li><li>to be in preparation; develop: Plans for the new factory have been cooking for several years.</li><li>to take place; occur; happen: What's cooking at the club?</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a person who cooks: The restaurant hired a new cook.</li></ul><p><strong>Verb Phrase</strong></p><ul><li>Informal: to concoct or contrive, often dishonestly: She hastily cooked up an excuse.</li><li>to falsify: Someone had obviously cooked up the alibi.</li><li>(of a shell or cartridge) to explode or fire without being triggered as a result of overheating in the chamber of the weapon.</li></ul>