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Cuckoo - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A cuckoo is a bird known for its distinctive call and habit of laying eggs in other birds' nests. The word can also describe someone who is silly or eccentric.

cuckoo

/ˈkʊku/ /ˈkʊkuː/

Definition:

A bird known for laying eggs in other birds' nests, or a person considered silly or crazy.

Synonyms:

fool, simpleton, nutcase

Part of Speech:

noun, adjective

Antonyms:

genius, sage

Common Collocations:

cuckoo clock, cuckoo's nest, cuckoo call

Derivatives:

cuckold, cuckooing

Usage Tips:

Use "cuckoo" as a noun for the bird or informally for a foolish person; as an adjective, it means crazy or eccentric.

Common Phrases:

cuckoo in the nest, gone cuckoo, cloud-cuckoo-land

Etymology:

From Old French "cucu," imitative of the bird's call, dating back to the 13th century.

Examples:

  • 1. The cuckoo sings loudly in the forest every spring.
  • 2. She called him a cuckoo for believing such nonsense.
  • 3. The old man’s cuckoo clock chimed every hour.
  • 4. He felt like a cuckoo in the nest at the formal party.

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