cake

[ keyk ]
/ keɪk /

noun

verb (used with object), caked, cak·ing.

to form into a crust or compact mass.

verb (used without object), caked, cak·ing.

to become formed into a crust or compact mass.

Idioms for cake

    a piece of cake, Informal. something easily done: She thought her first solo flight was a piece of cake.
    take the cake, Informal.
    1. to surpass all others, especially in some undesirable quality; be extraordinary or unusual: His arrogance takes the cake.
    2. to win first prize.

Origin of cake

1200–50; Middle English < Old Norse kaka; akin to Middle English kechel little cake, German Kuchen; see cookie

OTHER WORDS FROM cake

cak·y, cak·ey, adjective non·cak·ing, adjective, noun un·cake, verb (used with object), un·caked, un·cak·ing.

British Dictionary definitions for take the cake

cake
/ (keɪk) /

noun

verb

(tr) to cover with a hard layer; encrust the hull was caked with salt
to form or be formed into a hardened mass

Derived forms of cake

cakey or caky, adjective

Word Origin for cake

C13: from Old Norse kaka; related to Danish kage, German Kuchen

Cultural definitions for take the cake

take the cake

To be the most outstanding; sometimes used in a derogatory sense: “When it comes to eating like a pig, Gordy really takes the cake.”

Idioms and Phrases with take the cake (1 of 2)

take the cake

Be the most outstanding in some respect, either the best or the worst. For example, That advertising slogan really took the cake, or What a mess they made of the concert—that takes the cake! This expression alludes to a contest called a cakewalk, in which a cake is the prize. Its figurative use, for something either excellent or outrageously bad, dates from the 1880s.

Idioms and Phrases with take the cake (2 of 2)

cake

see eat one's cake and have it, too; flat as a pancake; icing on the cake; nutty as a fruitcake; piece of cake; sell like hot cakes; slice of the pie (cake); take the cake.