cuckoo Definition
- 1a bird with a distinctive call, typically living as a parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds
- 2a crazy or eccentric person
Using cuckoo: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "cuckoo" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The cuckoo laid its eggs in the robin's nest.
Example
He's a bit of a cuckoo, always talking to himself and wearing strange clothes.
cuckoo Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with cuckoo
cuckoo clock
a clock that announces the hours with a sound like the call of the cuckoo
Example
The cuckoo clock chimed twelve times.
Example
He felt like a cuckoo in the nest at the fancy dinner party.
play cuckoo
to feign madness or eccentricity
Example
He played cuckoo to avoid being drafted into the army.
Summary: cuckoo in Brief
The term 'cuckoo' [ˈkʊkuː] refers to a bird known for laying its eggs in other birds' nests, as well as a person who is crazy or eccentric. It can be used in phrases like 'cuckoo clock,' which announces the hours with the sound of the cuckoo bird, and 'cuckoo in the nest,' which describes someone who is unwelcome or out of place. The phrase 'play cuckoo' means to feign madness or eccentricity.