noun
Uncommon
cuckoo
KUU-koo
Cuckoo (noun) means a gray-brown bird known for its distinctive two-note call and for laying its eggs in other birds' nests. Example: “A cuckoo clock chimes with a sound like the bird's call.”
noun
1
A gray-brown bird known for its distinctive two-note call and for laying its eggs in other birds' nests.
"A cuckoo clock chimes with a sound like the bird's call."
adj
1
Informal word for crazy or not making sense.
"That plan sounds completely cuckoo to me."
verb
1
To move into and take over someone's home, often a vulnerable person's, in order to use it for criminal activity.
"Police say the gang had been cuckooing an elderly resident's flat."
How to use cuckoo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the bird itself, slang for "crazy," or (in UK crime reporting) the practice of criminals taking over a vulnerable person's home.
Common pairings
cuckoo clock
go cuckoo
cuckooing
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- cuckoos
- Past tense
- cuckooed
- Comparative
- more cuckoo
- Superlative
- most cuckoo
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ clock chimes with a sound like the bird's call.
Etymology
From Old French cocu, imitating the call of the male common cuckoo.
Related words
Rhymes for cuckoo
See all rhymes for 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.
