A cupboard is a piece of furniture that has one or two doors, usually contains shelves, and is used to store things. In British English, cupboard refers to all kinds of furniture like this. In American English, closet is usually used instead to refer to larger pieces of furniture. The kitchen cupboard was stocked with tins of soup and food
a skeleton in the cupboard: see skeleton. a piece of furniture with doors, and sometimes shelves, used for storing clothes, plates, food etc closet, wardrobe wardrobe (cupboard (14-18 centuries))