one-cup
UK[wʌn kʌp]US[wʌn kʌp]
adj
Relating to or designed for a single serving of a beverage, typically measured by the volume of a standard cup.
n
A single serving of a beverage, especially one prepared using a single-serving filter or pod, as in a one-cup coffee maker.
Morpheme Breakdown
one
cup
one
single
cup
vessel
Etymology
The compound "one-cup" is a modern English formation following a straightforward descriptive pattern. The first element, "one", derives from the Proto-Germanic 'ainaz', which has a stable history of denoting singularity. The second element, "cup", originates from Late Latin 'cuppa' (meaning "a small vessel"), likely of non-Indo-European origin. The logic of the compound is transparently literal: it directly describes a quantity or portion defined by a single cup's volume. This literal sense evolved in the late 20th/early 21st century to take on a more specific, commercial meaning, referring to single-serving brewing systems and the pods designed for them, where "cup" metaphorically represents a standardized unit of consumption rather than a physical object.
Analysis
Structure: one (single) + cup (vessel)
one: From Old English 'ān', meaning "one, a single". It functions as a numerical determiner/modifier indicating singularity.
cup: From Old English 'cuppe', meaning "a small vessel for drinking". It functions as the core noun, specifying the object or unit of measure.
Examples
I prefer a one-cup coffee maker for my office because it's quick and there's no waste.
This recipe yields about four one-cup servings of soup.
She bought a box of one-cup pods for her new machine.