cupboard
UK[ˈkʌbəd]US[ˈkʌbərd]
n
a piece of furniture or a small space in a wall with a door that you use for storing things, especially plates, cups, and food
Morpheme Breakdown
cup
board
cup
cup, vessel
board
plank, flat piece of wood
Etymology
the word "cupboard" originated in late middle english as a compound of the old english words "cuppe" (cup) and "bord" (board, table). it originally referred to a board or table upon which cups and plates were displayed. over time, this concept evolved to denote a piece of furniture—a sideboard or a cabinet—used for storing such items. the modern meaning of a closed storage unit, often with shelves, developed from this earlier sense of a dedicated surface or structure for holding cups and dishes.
Analysis
Structure: cup + board
cup (old english, meaning "cup, vessel"); board (old english, meaning "plank, flat piece of wood")
Examples
she took a plate from the kitchen cupboard.
all the canned goods are stored in the pantry cupboard.
the old house had a built-in cupboard in the hallway.