Cuckoo

Pronunciation: /ˈkʊkuː/

Definitions of cuckoo

noun a bird known for its distinctive call

Example Sentences

A1 I heard a cuckoo singing in the forest.

A2 The cuckoo laid its eggs in another bird's nest.

B1 The cuckoo is known for its distinctive call.

B2 During springtime, the cuckoo can be heard throughout the countryside.

C1 Ornithologists study the behavior of cuckoos in their natural habitat.

C2 The cuckoo is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of other bird species.

adjective crazy or silly, often used to describe behavior

Example Sentences

A1 The cuckoo clock chimed every hour.

A2 She wore a cuckoo hat to the costume party.

B1 The cuckoo behavior of the new employee was starting to annoy her coworkers.

B2 The artist's paintings were described as cuckoo by critics.

C1 The politician's proposal was dismissed as cuckoo by the opposition.

C2 The scientist's theory was initially seen as cuckoo, but later proved to be groundbreaking.

Examples of cuckoo in a Sentence

formal The cuckoo bird is known for laying its eggs in other bird's nests.

informal I heard that cuckoo bird singing in the trees this morning.

slang That movie was so bad, it was cuckoo!

figurative His behavior was so erratic, it was like he had a cuckoo clock in his head.

Grammatical Forms of cuckoo

• past tense: cuckooed
• plural: cuckoos
• comparative: more cuckoo
• superlative: most cuckoo
• present tense: cuckoos
• future tense: will cuckoo
• perfect tense: have cuckooed
• continuous tense: cuckooing
• singular: cuckoo
• positive degree: cuckoo
• infinitive: to cuckoo
• gerund: cuckooing
• participle: cuckooed

Origin and Evolution of cuckoo

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'cuckoo' is derived from the Old French word 'cocu', which means cuckoo or cuckold. The association with the cuckoo bird likely comes from the bird's habit of laying its eggs in other birds' nests, leading to the term 'cuckold' for a man whose wife has been unfaithful.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'cuckoo' has come to be used as an insult or derogatory term for a foolish or crazy person. It is also commonly used in English as an onomatopoeic word to mimic the call of the cuckoo bird.