cuckoo1 nouncuckoo2 adjective
cuckoocuck‧oo1 /ˈkʊkuː $ ˈkuːkuː, ˈkʊ-/ noun [countable] 
Word OriginWORD ORIGINcuckoo1
ExamplesOrigin:
1200-1300 Old French cucu, from the sound it makesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
word sets- However, Edgar Chance showed that a cuckoo using a meadow pipit's nest is nearly always attacked while she is laying.
- In addition to certain species of cuckoo, there are about 30 species of birds worldwide that are also brood parasites.
- Opposite A pair of reed warblers work flat out to keep the young cuckoo satisfied.
- The truth is that, as she is laying, the cuckoo removes and eats one of the host's eggs.
- This gives the cuckoo more time to find and watch a suitable nest.
- Very occasionally the young cuckoo fails to remove its host's eggs and the young cuckoo and chicks are reared together.
WORD SETS► Birds
Collocationsauk, nounbald eagle, nounbeak, nounbill, nounbird, nounbirdie, nounbird of paradise, nounbird of passage, nounbird of prey, nounbirdsong, nounblackbird, nounbluebird, nounbluejay, nounbobwhite, nounbreast, nounbuzzard, nouncackle, verbchick, nounclaw, nouncob, nouncock, nouncockerel, nouncockscomb, nouncolouring, nouncondor, nouncoo, verbcoot, nouncormorant, nouncorncrake, nouncrane, nouncrest, nouncrested, adjectivecrop, nouncrow, nouncrow, verbcuckoo, nouncurlew, nouncygnet, noundickybird, noundipper, noundive, verbdodo, noundove, noundown, nounduck, nounduckling, nouneagle, nouneaglet, nounegret, nounemu, nounfeather, nounflamingo, nounfledgling, nounflight, nounfly, verbflycatcher, nounfowl, noungander, noungannet, noungizzard, noungobble, verbgobbler, noungolden eagle, noungoldfinch, noungoose, noungrebe, noungrouse, nounguillemot, nounguinea fowl, nounhackles, nounhatch, verbhawk, nounheron, nounhonk, nounhonk, verbhoot, nounhoot, verbhornbill, nounhouse martin, nounhumming bird, nounincubate, verbjackdaw, nounjay, nounkestrel, nounkingfisher, nounkite, nounkiwi, nounlark, nounlay, verblinnet, nounloon, nounlovebird, nounmacaw, nounmagpie, nounmallard, nounmarabou, nounmartin, nounmeadowlark, nounmigrant, nounmockingbird, nounmoorhen, nounmoult, verbmynah bird, nounnest, nounnest, verbnestling, nounnightingale, nounoriole, nounornithologist, nounornithology, nounosprey, nounostrich, nounowl, nounowlet, nounparakeet, nounparrot, nounpartridge, nounpeacock, nounpeafowl, nounpeahen, nounpeck, verbpeck, nounpeewit, nounpelican, nounpenguin, nounperch, nounperch, verbperegrine falcon, nounpetrel, nounpipit, nounplover, nounplumage, nounplume, verbpullet, nounquail, nounquill, nounraven, nounroadrunner, nounrobin, nounrook, nounroost, nounroost, verbrooster, nounruff, nounsandpiper, nounseabird, nounseagull, nounshag, nounsing, verbskylark, nounsnipe, nounsong, nounsongbird, nounsongster, nounsparrow, nounstarling, nounswallow, nounswan, nounswift, nounswoop, verbtalon, nounteal, nountern, nounthrush, nountit, nountoucan, nountrill, nounturkey, nounturtledove, nountwitter, verbvulture, nounwader, nounwagtail, nounwarble, verbwarbler, nounwater bird, nounwaterfowl, nounwebbed, adjectiveweb-footed, adjectivewhistle, verbwing, nounwinged, adjectivewingspan, nounwingtip, nounwishbone, nounwren, nounyellowhammer, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a cuckoo clock
a grey European bird that puts its eggs in other birds’ nests and that makes a sound that sounds like its name (=a clock with a wooden bird inside that comes out every hour and makes a sound)
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE► young· Very occasionally the young cuckoo fails to remove its host's eggs and the young cuckoo and chicks are reared together.· After about three weeks, the young cuckoo is ready to leave the nest.· Sir Emmanuel asked Uncle Ned what it was and he said it was a young cuckoo.· Opposite A pair of reed warblers work flat out to keep the young cuckoo satisfied.· The entire burden of hatching, feeding and caring for the young cuckoo falls on the hapless foster parents.· A dunnock plays host to a young cuckoo.
NOUN► clock· I am famous for cuckoo clocks and chocolate.· Beside the portrait was a carved cuckoo clock with green ivy and purple grapes growing around a green front door.· There was a grotesque inventiveness, a deliberate eccentricity in the idea of the cuckoo clock that Melanie had never encountered.· The cuckoo clock spun round and round.· Have you seen those cuckoo clocks which have little weathermen as part of the mechanism?· Melanie and Aunt Margaret sat in complete silence but for the ponderous ticking of the cuckoo clock and its regular two note interjections.
cuckoo1 nouncuckoo2 adjective
cuckoocuckoo2 adjective [not before noun] informal ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Collocations- So every nation is equally cuckoo.
- This may sound cuckoo, but remember the rolling wheel thing.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a cuckoo clock
crazy or silly: (=a clock with a wooden bird inside that comes out every hour and makes a sound)
You’re completely cuckoo!