Definition

1. Noun:

   • A large, black bird with a harsh call: A crow is a type of bird, typically all black, known for its loud, raucous "caw" sound.
   • The loud cry of a rooster: The sound a rooster makes, especially at dawn.
   • An instance of boastful talk: An expression of triumphant pride or gloating.

2. Verb:

   • To utter the cry of a rooster: To make the characteristic loud call of a male chicken.
   • To express gleeful triumph: To boast or express great pleasure, especially over a success.
   • To utter a happy, shrill sound: To make a sound of delight, often like a baby.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • A crow landed on the fence. (A black bird perched on the fence.)
  • We woke up to the crow of the rooster. (We were awakened by the rooster's call.)
  • His victory was followed by an annoying crow. (His win was followed by annoying boastful talk.)

• Verb:

  • The rooster crows at sunrise. (The male chicken calls out when the sun rises.)
  • She couldn't help but crow about her promotion. (She couldn't resist boasting about her promotion.)
  • The baby crowed with delight at the toy. (The baby made a happy, shrill sound because of the toy.)

Advanced Usage

• "To crow over someone/something": To express one's triumph in a way that shows contempt for a defeated rival or problem.
  • He crowed over his defeated opponent. (He boasted triumphantly over his beaten rival.)

Variants and Related Words

• Crowbar (n): A heavy iron bar with a flattened end, used as a lever. (Note: This is a compound word, not a direct variant of the verb/noun 'crow'.)
• As the crow flies: In a straight line, measuring the shortest distance between two points.
  • The town is ten miles away as the crow flies. (The town is ten miles away in a direct line.)

Synonyms

• Noun (bird): Raven, rook, corvid.
• Noun (boast): Brag, boast, gasconade.
• Verb (boast): Brag, gloat, exult.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Crow over: To boast triumphantly about defeating someone or overcoming something.
  • It's unkind to crow over someone's failure. (It is not nice to boast triumphantly about someone else's failure.)

Related Idioms

• Eat crow: To be forced to admit a humiliating error; to retract a statement and accept humiliation.
  • After his prediction was proven wrong, he had to eat crow. (After his forecast was shown to be incorrect, he had to humbly admit he was wrong.)
• Have a crow to pluck/pick with someone: To have a complaint or grievance to discuss with someone.
  • I have a crow to pick with you about the messy kitchen. (I have a complaint to discuss with you regarding the dirty kitchen.)

Noun

1. a Siouan language spoken by the Crow
2. an instance of boastful talk
   • his brag is worse than his fight
   • whenever he won we were exposed to his gasconade
3. a small quadrilateral constellation in the southern hemisphere near Virgo
4. a member of the Siouan people formerly living in eastern Montana
5. the cry of a cock (or an imitation of it)
6. black birds having a raucous call

Verb

1. utter shrill sounds
   • The cocks crowed all morning
2. express pleasure verbally
   • She crowed with joy
3. dwell on with satisfaction