crow
1any of several large oscine birds of the genus Corvus, of the family Corvidae, having a long, stout bill, lustrous black plumage, and a wedge-shaped tail, as the common C. brachyrhynchos, of North America.
any of several other birds of the family Corvidae.
any of various similar birds of other families.
Crow, Astronomy. the constellation Corvus.
Idioms about crow
as the crow flies, in a straight line; by the most direct route: The next town is thirty miles from here, as the crow flies.
eat crow, Informal. to be forced to admit to having made a mistake, as by retracting an emphatic statement; suffer humiliation: His prediction was completely wrong, and he had to eat crow.
have a crow to pick / pluck with someone, Midland and Southern U.S. to have a reason to disagree or argue with someone.
Origin of crow
1Words that may be confused with crow
- craw, crow
Other definitions for crow (2 of 3)
to utter the characteristic cry of a rooster.
to gloat, boast, or exult (often followed by over).
to utter an inarticulate cry of pleasure, as an infant does.
the characteristic cry of a rooster.
an inarticulate cry of pleasure.
Origin of crow
2Other words for crow
Other words from crow
- crower, noun
- crow·ing·ly, adverb
Other definitions for Crow (3 of 3)
a member of a Siouan people of eastern Montana.
a Siouan language closely related to Hidatsa.
Origin of Crow
3Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use crow in a sentence
After a flood of cancellations, the critics crowed the daytime soap was finished.
“Sen. Obama's support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again,” she crowed in May 2008.
In August 2011, John Boehner crowed “I got 98 percent of what I wanted.”
“I think it is a significant turn in U.S. policy toward Myanmar [Burma],” Thein Sein adviser Ko Ko Hlaing crowed to Reuters.
Hillary Clinton in Burma: Why She's Visiting the Oppressed State | Lennox Samuels | November 19, 2011 | THE DAILY BEASTThe cock crowed three times, and Bill Keller shamelessly denied us.
The roosters crowed and the hens clucked; the farmer's wife began to get breakfast, and the four children slept on.
The Box-Car Children | Gertrude Chandler WarnerThey mewed like cats at the approach of the patrol, and crowed like cocks when a likely victim approached.
And Coquerico, bristling his plumage, crowed three times in his shrillest voice and proudly strutted onward.
Laboulaye's Fairy Book | VariousAn th' angel iv peace brooded over th' earth an' crowed lustily.
Mr. Dooley Says | Finley DunneThe little fellow, in his glee, clapped his hands and crowed too.
Chanticleer | Cornelius Mathews
British Dictionary definitions for crow (1 of 3)
/ (krəʊ) /
any large gregarious songbird of the genus Corvus, esp C. corone (the carrion crow) of Europe and Asia: family Corvidae . Other species are the raven, rook, and jackdaw and all have a heavy bill, glossy black plumage, and rounded wings: See also carrion crow Related adjective: corvine
any of various other corvine birds, such as the jay, magpie, and nutcracker
Origin of crow
1British Dictionary definitions for crow (2 of 3)
/ (krəʊ) /
(past tense crowed or crew) to utter a shrill squawking sound, as a cock
(often foll by over) to boast one's superiority
(esp of babies) to utter cries of pleasure
the act or an instance of crowing
Origin of crow
2Derived forms of crow
- crower, noun
- crowingly, adverb
British Dictionary definitions for Crow (3 of 3)
/ (krəʊ) /
plural Crows or Crow a member of a Native American people living in E Montana
the language of this people, belonging to the Siouan family
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with crow
In addition to the idiom beginning with crow
- crown jewels
- crow over
also see:
- as the crow flies
- eat crow
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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