crow
kroh
Crow (noun) means a large black bird with a harsh, cawing call. Example: “A crow perched on the fence post, watching the field.”
noun
1
A large black bird with a harsh, cawing call.
"A crow perched on the fence post, watching the field."
"Crows are known for being remarkably intelligent birds."
"At the edge of the village, a crow called harshly from the barn roof."
verb
1
Of a rooster, to make its loud characteristic call, especially at dawn.
"The rooster crowed just before sunrise."
"Every morning the neighbour's rooster crows so loudly that nobody needs an alarm clock."
"I woke at dawn to hear the cockerel crowing somewhere across the misty fields."
2
To boast or express triumphant satisfaction, often annoyingly.
"He couldn't stop crowing about his promotion."
"She crowed over her rival's defeat."
"Don't crow about your win too much, or your friends will stop wanting to play with you."
How to use crow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe black bird, the rooster's call, or (figuratively) bragging loudly about a win.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the tool sense (a "crowbar" is sometimes just called a "crow") with the bird.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
crow about something
a flock of crows
crow triumphantly
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Word forms
- Plural
- crows
- Third person singular
- crows
- Past tense
- crowed, crew, crown
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ perched on the fence post, watching the field.
Etymology
From Old English crāwe, imitating the bird's harsh call — related to the verb "to crow."
Related words
Rhymes for crow
See all rhymes for crow →Frequently asked questions
What does “crow” mean?
The word “crow” means a large black bird with a harsh, cawing call. In plain terms, the black bird, the rooster's call, or (figuratively) bragging loudly about a win.
How do you pronounce “crow”?
“Crow” is pronounced kroh (/kɹoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “crow” in a sentence?
Here is “crow” used in a sentence: “A crow perched on the fence post, watching the field.”
What part of speech is “crow”?
Depending on how it is used, “crow” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “crow” come from?
The word “crow” comes from Old English. From Old English crāwe, imitating the bird's harsh call — related to the verb "to crow.".
Is “crow” a common word?
“Crow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “crow” have?
“Crow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large black bird with a harsh, cawing call.
What is the difference between a crow and a raven?
Crows and ravens are both large black birds with harsh calls, but ravens are typically larger, with shaggier throat feathers and a deeper, more guttural call, while crows are smaller with a sharper, more repetitive caw. The dictionary defines crow simply as a large black bird with a harsh, cawing call, without distinguishing it from closely related species like the raven.
What does it mean when a rooster crows?
When a rooster crows, it makes its loud, characteristic call, especially at dawn, a behavior long associated with marking the start of the day. This sense of crow describes a specific bird sound rather than the general cawing of the crow species.
What does it mean to crow about something?
To crow about something means to boast or express triumphant satisfaction, often in a way that others find annoying, such as crowing about a win over a rival. This figurative use likely draws on the proud, loud sound of a rooster's crow at dawn.
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