crow

See also: Crow

crow - English

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /kɹəʊ/
  • (US) enPR: krō, IPA: /kɹoʊ/

Noun

crow (plural crows)

  1. A bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles; it has a harsh, croaking call.
  2. Any of various dark-coloured nymphalid butterflies of the genus Euploea.
  3. A bar of iron with a beak, crook or claw; a bar of iron used as a lever; a crowbar.
  4. (historical) A gangplank (corvus) used by the Ancient Roman navy to board enemy ships.
  5. (among butchers) The mesentery of an animal.
  6. (derogatory) An ill-tempered and obstinate woman, or one who otherwise has features resembling the bird; a harpy.
    • Synonyms: see shrew
  7. (ethnic slur, offensive, slang) A black person.
  8. (military, slang) The emblem of an eagle, a sign of military rank.

Derived terms

Translations


Verb

crow (third-person singular simple present crows, present participle crowing, simple past crowed or (UK) crew, past participle crowed or (archaic) crown)

  1. (intransitive) To make the shrill sound characteristic of a rooster; to make a sound in this manner, either in gaiety, joy, pleasure, or defiance.
  2. (intransitive) To shout in exultation or defiance; to brag.
    • He’s been crowing all day about winning the game of cards.
  3. (intransitive, music) To test the reed of a double reed instrument by placing the reed alone in the mouth and blowing it.

Usage notes

The past tense crew in modern usage is confined to literary and metaphorical uses, usually with reference to the story of Peter in Luke 22.60. The past participle crown is similarly poetical.

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

crow (plural crows)

  1. The cry of the bird known in the US as a rooster and in British English as a cockerel.

Anagrams

crow - Middle English

Noun

crow

  1. Alternative form of crowe
Meaning and Definition of crow
© 2022 WordCodex