cuckoo
8 synonyms for cuckoo, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A gray-brown bird known for its distinctive two-note call and for laying its eggs in other birds' nests.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cuckoo
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
cuckoo clock
go cuckoo
cuckooing
Etymology
From Old French cocu, imitating the call of the male common cuckoo.
Full origin of cuckoo →Frequently asked questions
What does “cuckoo” mean?
The word “cuckoo” means a gray-brown bird known for its distinctive two-note call and for laying its eggs in other birds' nests. In plain terms, either the bird itself, slang for "crazy," or (in UK crime reporting) the practice of criminals taking over a vulnerable person's home.
How do you pronounce “cuckoo”?
“Cuckoo” is pronounced KUU-koo (/ˈkuku/ in IPA).
How do you use “cuckoo” in a sentence?
Here is “cuckoo” used in a sentence: “A cuckoo clock chimes with a sound like the bird's call.”
What part of speech is “cuckoo”?
Depending on how it is used, “cuckoo” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “cuckoo” come from?
The word “cuckoo” comes from Old French. From Old French cocu, imitating the call of the male common cuckoo.
Is “cuckoo” a common word?
“Cuckoo” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cuckoo” have?
“Cuckoo” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gray-brown bird known for its distinctive two-note call and for laying its eggs in other birds' nests.
