meaning - What's the difference between "cup" and "glass"?


Are "cup" and "glass" the same in English? Can I call a "glass" a cup made of plastic?



Answer



The shapes are variable, but the meanings converge on Prototypes.


In a classic set of experiments in 1973, Labov showed how this works with cup and mug.



Labov, William. 1973. 'The Boundaries of Words and Their Meanings' in R. Fasold (ed), Variation in the Form and Use of Language: A Sociolinguistics Reader. Georgetown University Press, 1983.



To summarize the relevant points, no, cup and glass are not the same in English. Yes, you can call a cup made of plastic a glass, depending on the context.


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