noun
Common
cock
kok
Cock (noun) means an adult male chicken; a rooster. Example: “A proud cock strutted around the farmyard, watching over the hens.”
noun
1
An adult male chicken; a rooster.
"A proud cock strutted around the farmyard, watching over the hens."
"The farmer kept one cock and twelve hens in the garden."
"The cock crowed at dawn."
2
A valve or tap that controls the flow of liquid or gas.
"The plumber fitted a new brass cock to the bottom of the tank."
"Turn the cock a quarter turn to let the gas flow."
"He turned the stopcock to shut off the water."
3
Vulgar slang: a penis.
"(vulgar slang, generally avoided in formal writing)"
verb
1
To tilt or raise something at an angle, or to pull back the hammer of a gun ready to fire.
"The dog cocked its ears at the strange noise outside."
"He cocked his head, listening carefully."
"She cocked the pistol before stepping through the door."
How to use cock
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPrimarily the word for a male chicken and for tilting something (like a head or a gun hammer); also common crude slang for a penis.
When to use it
The bird and valve/gun senses are standard English; the anatomical sense is vulgar and best avoided in formal contexts.
Common pairings
cock a gun
cock an eyebrow
a stopcock
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Word forms
- Plural
- cocks
- Third person singular
- cocks
- Past tense
- cocked
Etymology
From Old English cocc, most likely imitating the bird's crowing sound; the vulgar sense for "penis" has been in use since at least the 1600s.
Class of 1600
cock joined the language around 1600.
See the full Class of 1600 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for cock
See all rhymes for cock →Frequently asked questions
What does “cock” mean?
The word “cock” means an adult male chicken; a rooster.
How do you pronounce “cock”?
“Cock” is pronounced kok (/kɑk/ in IPA).
How do you use “cock” in a sentence?
Here is “cock” used in a sentence: “The cock crowed at dawn.”
What is another word for “cock”?
Words with a similar meaning to “cock” include cockbird and rooster.
What part of speech is “cock”?
Depending on how it is used, “cock” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cock” come from?
The word “cock” dates back to around 1600 and comes from Old English.
Is “cock” a common word?
“Cock” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cock” have?
“Cock” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an adult male chicken; a rooster.
