parrot

[ par-uht ]

noun

1. any of numerous hook-billed, often brilliantly colored birds of the order Psittaciformes, as the cockatoo, lory, macaw, or parakeet, having the ability to mimic speech and often kept as pets.
2. a person who, without thought or understanding, merely repeats the words or imitates the actions of another.

verb (used with object)

1. to repeat or imitate without thought or understanding.
2. to teach to repeat or imitate in such a fashion.

parrot

/ ˈpærət /

noun

1. any bird of the tropical and subtropical order Psittaciformes, having a short hooked bill, compact body, bright plumage, and an ability to mimic sounds psittacine
2. a person who repeats or imitates the words or actions of another unintelligently
3. sick as a parrot facetious.
   sick as a parrot extremely disappointed

verb

1. tr to repeat or imitate mechanically without understanding

Derived Forms

• ˈparrotry, noun

Other Words From

• parrot·like adjective
• parrot·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parrot¹

1515–25; apparently < Middle French P ( i ) errot, diminutive of Pierre ( parakeet ), though a comparable sense of the French word is not known until the 18th century

Word History and Origins

Origin of parrot¹

C16: probably from French paroquet; see parakeet

Example Sentences

Of course, we might find it easier to work with parrots or dogs, but whales, by their sheer size, their commanding voices, and surprising grace elicit a kind of attention that smaller lifeforms can’t.

From Nautilus

In South America, palm swifts snatch feathers from flying pigeons and parrots — a behavior already known as kleptoptily.

From Science News

Pelicans, woodpeckers, and parrots have very different diets that require a beak adapted to the job.

From Ars Technica

Look at most of the smartest animals on the planet, like monkeys, elephants, parrots, and hyenas, and you’ll see that they live in complex, rather than simple, social systems.

From Nautilus

So if a parrot is able to tell us the color of different objects, that does not necessarily show that the parrot understands the meanings of those words.

From Singularity Hub 

As he describes why he plans to spend the rest of his days in Kisangani, a pet parrot gnaws on his Rolex.

From The Daily Beast

Oliver bares his soul as he highlights comments in which he is compared to a parrot and knocked for mocking an unremarkable soda.

From The Daily Beast

There's the parrot, wings wrapped around himself, shivering.

From The Daily Beast

Finally the guy gets fed up and throws the parrot in the freezer to punish him.

From The Daily Beast

Everyone inside the cavernous O2 arena in East London knew exactly what his complaint would be: This was a Dead Parrot.

From The Daily Beast

He stooped to knot up his long, wet hair, and the parrot fluttered to his shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg

Hephzibah seldom spoke; perhaps, like the parrot in the story, she thought the more.

From Project Gutenberg

All the parrot tribe in Brazil is beautiful: but neither parrots nor parroquets talk well.

From Project Gutenberg

He has been teasing my parrot in its cage, and has plucked so many of its feathers that it now looks like a beaked rat.

From Project Gutenberg

One large gray parrot had learned her name, and would call out, "Good-morning, Susan!"

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• recite