Showing results for "cooing"

• present participle of coo.

cooing

American  

[koo-ing] / ˈku ɪŋ /

noun

1. an act or instance of uttering or imitating the soft murmuring sound characteristic of doves.

   Jim recognized the sound as the cooing of a pigeon, although some of us thought it was an owl.

2. the act of murmuring or talking fondly or admiringly.

   I’m no fan of fancy goodies—not for me the cooing over iced Halloween cupcakes topped with fondant pumpkins.

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adjective

1. making the sound characteristic of doves.

   Since February, the lake has come alive again with a few pairs of mallards and a cooing eider duck.

2. murmuring or talking fondly or admiringly.

   Strolling on the boardwalk were cooing couples, briefcase-toting executives, and chattering children with their nannies.

Other Word Forms

• cooingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cooing

First recorded in 1660–70; coo ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; coo ¹ ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses

Example Sentences

Minneapolis Amphibious Cooing Sirs: I note that the word "pigeons" contains the letters "g" and "e" placed consecutively, but your sentence construction connotes the idea that the letters "G.I." should probably be used in substitution.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cooing contentedly, the little girl toddled out the front gate and started down the road.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cooing in the Australian fashion, or jvdling in that of the Swiss, are both of them heard a long way.

From The Art of Travel Shifts and Contrivances Available in Wild Countries by Galton, Francis, Sir

"Why, what's the Cooing Column?" asked Mary, laughing.

From The Treasure of Heaven A Romance of Riches by Corelli, Marie

Cooing, and laughter, and gurgles, and cries, Dimples for tenderest kisses, Chaos of hopes, and of raptures, and sighs, Chaos of fears and of blisses.

From The Home Book of Verse — Volume 1 by Stevenson, Burton Egbert

Related Words

• murmur