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.
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.