cooing

[ koo-ing ]

/ ˈku ɪŋ /

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See synonyms for cooing on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

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.

adjective

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.

murmuring or talking fondly or admiringly: Strolling on the boardwalk were cooing couples, briefcase-toting executives, and chattering children with their nannies.

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Origin of cooing

coo¹ + -ed¹ for the noun senses; coo¹ + -ed² for the adjective senses

OTHER WORDS FROM cooing

coo·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby cooing

Cooch Behar, coochie, cooee, cooey, coof, cooing, cook, cookbook, Cook, Captain James, cook-chill, Cooke

How to use cooing in a sentence

Then, incredibly, he cocked his head and started making cooing sounds at the baby.
Westgate's Chilling Security Video Reveals Shopping Mall Bloodbath|Nina Strochlic|September 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was a cooing and cherubic mini-avatar called Anima, which players earned after reaching a certain level in the game Prius.
‘Love Child’ Game Over: Internet Addicts Let Their Baby Starve to Death|Nina Strochlic|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Legendary Lovers” has her cooing at her man over sitar backing to “say my name like a scripture.
‘Prism’ Review: Katy Perry Perfects the Pop Blockbuster|Kevin Fallon|October 22, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is Britney Spears in a neon-pink ball gown on a lily pad cooing for the camera.
Britney Spears’s ‘Work Bitch’ Music Video Is Flawless, Classic Britney|Kevin Fallon|October 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST

I grew up wanting the whole shebang: Prince Charming, white picket fence and our cooing angel-faced children.
Why I Choose to Be Child-Free: Readers Share Their Stories|Harry Siegel|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When we passed the birds were singing instead, sending down with the cooing pigeons a chorus from the trees.
The Relief of Mafeking|Filson Young
Amidst the many murmurs from forest and village, from the sea and the air, a sound of cooing could be distinguished.
Toilers of the Sea|Victor Hugo
The baby ran its arms more closely around Raegen's neck and did not speak, unless its cooing in Raegen's ear was an answer.
Gallegher and Other Stories|Richard Harding Davis
The doves were cooing and fluttering in the cornices and the cockatoo was preening his lemon colored topknot.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath
Sometimes we hear the pigeons running on the outsides of the shingles and cooing under the eaves.
The Library of Work and Play: Housekeeping|Elizabeth Hale Gilman