caw
noun
the harsh, grating cry of the crow, raven, etc.
caw
American
[kaw]
/ kɔ /
noun
verb (used without object)
caw
1
British
/ kɔː /
noun
verb
CAW
2
British
abbreviation
Etymology
Origin of caw
First recorded in 1580–90; imitative
Explanation
To caw is to make a loud cry or call, like the sound a crow makes. There are few things spookier than hearing fifty crows caw in your yard at night. Many large birds caw as a way of communicating with each other, but crows and ravens are best known for making this particular cry. You can call the actual sound a caw as well. The word has been around since the 16th century, when it arose as an imitation of the noise itself.
Vocabulary lists containing caw
Essential Three-Letter Words, Part 3
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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
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This Was Our Pact
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For example, it said the delivery of the Drumahoe to Caw section of the A6 will "depend on a range of factors, including future budget settlements".
From BBC • Aug. 15, 2023
About 15 homes in Caw Park and Rockport Park were evacuated during the security operation.
From BBC • Feb. 23, 2023
The closest I’ve ever come is probably ‘The crows seemed to be calling his name, thought Caw.’
From New York Times • Jul. 15, 2013
Places that had been flashpoints earlier in the week, including state capital Sittwe, were quiet, said Caw Tun, a member of a development group, the Wan Latt Foundation.
From Reuters • Jun. 14, 2012
He perched on the pole and screamed a dark message in Edward’s left ear: Caw, caw, caw, without ceasing.
From "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
