Pronunciations (3)
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/kɹəʊ/
Pronunciation notes
- Received-Pronunciation
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/kɹoʊ/
Pronunciation notes
- US
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kɹoʊ
Noun
A bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles; it has a harsh, croaking call.
- Examples
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Gaslark in his splendour on the golden stairs saying adieu to those three captains and their matchless armament foredoomed to dogs and crows on Salapanta Hills.
Any of various dark-coloured nymphalid butterflies of the genus Euploea.
A bar of iron with a beak, crook or claw; a bar of iron used as a lever; a crowbar.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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He approached the humble tomb in which Antonia reposed. He had provided himself with an iron crow and a pick-axe: but this precaution was unnecessary.
More examples (1)
Watt might have broken the door down, with an axe, or a crow, or a small charge of explosive, but this might have aroused Erskine's suspicions, and Watt did not want that.
Someone who keeps watch while their associates commit a crime; a lookout.
Usage- Archaic
- Slang
- Examples
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“Ay,” put in a young man, who had the reputation of being the smartest “crow” in London—“‘fishers of men,’ as the parson says.”
More examples (1)
By nine o'clock on the evening of November 12, 1854, Pierce had his confederates in their places. The crow, Agar's woman, lounged across the street from the Trent mansion.
A gangplank (corvus) used by the Ancient Roman navy to board enemy ships.
Usage- Historical
The mesentery of an animal.
An ill-tempered and obstinate woman, or one who otherwise has features resembling the bird; a harpy.
Usage- Derogatory
- Examples
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But it helps a man along to have a wife he can be proud of. Suppose you marry some old crow. People point at her and ask, 'Who is that death's head yonder?'
(Mrs. Meany to Woody, from a window) "I don't care! I'm not running a pet shop." "Well it looks like one with an old crow in the window!"
A black person.
Usage- ethnic
- Offensive
- Slang
- slur
The emblem of an eagle, a sign of military rank.
Usage- Slang
- Examples
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A young petty officer that must have just received his “crow” (a single chevron, with an eagle over it) was showing off to several seamen.
The young man had been threatened with loss of his third class rank, his “crow,” the eagle in a petty officer's sleeve insignia.
Adjective
Dark black, the color of a crow; crow-black.
Usage- Uncommon
- Examples
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More examples (2)
"Though her crow hair is lovely and wavy, she loathes it and craves yellow locks. Since she saw Hugh, she's given me no peace.” Sheffield's square , good-looking face shaped a grimace.
[…] only her crow hair could be seen. Her appearance could not be seen as she anxiously called out, "Mother ..." The setting sun cast a dim yellow light on the interior of the house. The woman lay on her back and looked up at the beams overhead[…]
Verb
To use a crowbar, wedge, or other implement to attempt to open a surface by leveraging force on the opposite end of the tool to pry off the connection between the two surfaces.
- Synonyms
- Examples
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If you wanna get inside, you're gonna have to crow open that door.
Verb
To make the shrill sound characteristic of a rooster; to make a sound in this manner, either in gaiety, joy, pleasure, or defiance.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Yet once me thought it [the ghost of Hamlet's father] was about to ſpeake, / And lifted vp his head to motion, / Like as he would ſpeake, but euen the / The morning cocke crew lowd, and in all haſte / It ſhrunke in haſte away, and vaniſhed / Our ſight.
This is the Cock that crowed in the Morn[.]
'You are that Psyche' Cyril said again / 'The mother of the sweetest little maid, / That ever crow'd for kisses.'
More examples (3)
The child was at this time about ten months old, and was a strong, hearty, happy infant, always laughing when he was awake and always sleeping when he did not laugh, because his little limbs were free from pain and his little stomach was not annoyed by internal troubles. He kicked, and crowed, and sputtered, when his mother took him, and put up his little fingers to clutch her hair, and was to her as a young god upon the earth. Nothing in the world had ever been created so beautiful, so joyous, so satisfactory, so divine!
Hearing the miner's footsteps, the baby would put up his arms and crow.
When your rooster crows at the break o' dawn / Look out your window and I'll be gone.
To shout in exultation or defiance; to brag.
Usage- Intransitive
- Examples
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He’s been crowing all day about winning the game of cards.
More examples (1)
Touting its sponsorship of local engineering and sustainability programs, Amazon crows about such “investments” as its dog park, playing fields, art installations, and Buckyball-reminiscent domical gardens.
Another of my favorite dishes, the Asian chicken salad, was inspired by a skit by comedian Margaret Cho (“This is not the salad of my people…” she crows).
To test the reed of a double reed instrument by placing the reed alone in the mouth and blowing it.
Usage- Intransitive
Noun
The cry or call of a rooster or a cockerel, especially as heard at sunrise.
- Synonyms
Noun
black birds having a raucous call
- Broader terms
the cry of a cock (or an imitation of it)
- Broader terms
an instance of boastful talk
- Broader terms
- Examples
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his brag is worse than his fight
whenever he won we were exposed to his gasconade
Verb
dwell on with satisfaction
express pleasure verbally
- Examples
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She crowed with joy
utter shrill sounds
- Examples
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The cocks crowed all morning