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.

---

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

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 sits the lonely dove, Calling home her absent love.

From Poems Chiefly from Manuscript by Clare, John

I call it the Cooing Column, because it's the place where all the doves of society, soiled and clean, get their little grain of personal advertisement.

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

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

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

Related Words

• murmur