cuckoo

American  

[koo-koo, kook-oo] / ˈku ku, ˈkʊk u /

noun

PLURAL

cuckoos

1. a common European bird, Cuculus canorus, of the family Cuculidae, noted for its characteristic call and its brood parasitism.

2. any of several other birds of the family Cuculidae.

3. the call of the cuckoo, or an imitation of it.

4. Slang. a crazy, silly, or foolish person; simpleton.

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verb (used without object)

cuckooed, cuckooing

1. to utter the call of the cuckoo or an imitation of it.

verb (used with object)

cuckooed, cuckooing

1. to repeat monotonously.

adjective

1. Slang. crazy; silly; foolish.

2. of, relating to, or like a cuckoo.

cuckoo British  

/ ˈkʊkuː /

noun

1. any bird of the family Cuculidae, having pointed wings, a long tail, and zygodactyl feet: order Cuculiformes. Many species, including the European cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus ), lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and have a two-note call

2. informal an insane or foolish person

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adjective

1. informal insane or foolish

interjection

1. an imitation or representation of the call of a cuckoo

verb

1. (tr) to repeat over and over

2. (intr) to make the sound imitated by the word cuckoo

cuckoo Idioms  

1. see cloud-cuckoo land.

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Etymology

Origin of cuckoo

1200–50; Middle English cuc ( c ) u, cuccuk ( e ) (imitative); compare Latin cucūlus, French coucou, German Kuckuk, Dutch koekoek, Modern Greek koûko

Example Sentences

She had told police the allegations were "cloud cuckoo land", and a jury found her not guilty of all charges.

From BBC

Some cichlids will try to avoid this fate by screening their eggs for fake ones, but in the process may mistakenly abandon their own actual eggs as well as those of the cuckoo catfish.

From Salon

Fish and Wildlife Service announced the final habitat designation for the western yellow-billed cuckoo on Tuesday.

From Washington Times

“I’ve been there when 25 or more warbler species, plus a supporting cast of cuckoos, vireos, thrushes, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks and buntings … could be seen in a single day,” he wrote in an email.

From New York Times

I want the rebirth, the renewal, the rejuvenation, the dewdrops and showers, the first cuckoos and ascendant larks, the dooryard lilacs and budding twigs.

From Washington Post