peacock
1 of 2noun
pea·cock ˈpē-ˌkäk 
1
: a male peafowl distinguished by a crest of upright feathers and by greatly elongated loosely webbed upper tail coverts which are mostly tipped with iridescent spots and are erected and spread in a shimmering fan usually as a courtship display
broadly : peafowl
2
: one making a proud display of oneself : show-off
peacockish
ˈpē-ˌkä-kish
adjective peacocky
ˈpē-ˌkä-kē
adjective peacock
2 of 2verb
peacocked; peacocking; peacocks
intransitive verb
: show off
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022 Those include an ostrich, emus, a peacock, two sandhill cranes, cockatoos, and a Eurasian eagle owl, according to the sanctuary's website. Georgia News, ajc, 23 Aug. 2022 Details on exactly how the white enamel was sculpted over the black enamel and then etched away to create a peacock motif are explained via the tour’s expert commentary. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2022 See different species of colorful beetles, ants and an ant mound, a cicada, butterflies, a firefly, a stink bug, a ladybug, a peacock jumping spider, a dragonfly, a walking stick, a katydid, a caterpillar and a hissing cockroach. The Courier-Journal, 10 Aug. 2022 Sporting one is a flex without trying too hard—a more casual way to peacock. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2022 Birds of a Feather Talk about too pretty to eat—this colorful peacock is another brilliant example of the 3D jelly cake movement. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2022 Charles Darwin talked about the male peacock, with these giant feathers. Mike Sacks, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2022 The tiger is surrounded by butterflies, a hummingbird, a peacock and a turtle in a bowler hat. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 26 July 2022 Rod Berger, Forbes, 7 June 2022 No occasion grants celebrities the chance to peacock with quite the unbridled excess of the annual Met Gala; even the Oscars red carpet can't compete as fashion's biggest night. ELLE, 22 Mar. 2022 The congregation may shout or cut a step, and the preacher may peacock a bit to animate the sermon; release can often look like entropy to the untrained eye. Briana Younger, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2021 Police in all those cases demonstrated restraint, standing by while protesters screamed in their faces and peacocked around with guns strapped to their backs. refinery29.com, 27 May 2020 Risky Business’ Starts streaming: April 1 Watching this comedy feels like opening a time capsule and being transported back to 1983, when Tom Cruise was a fresh-faced newcomer and coming-of-age movies centered on rich, peacocking white boys. Eleanor Stanford, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2020 The latter days are open to the public, when art appreciators and peacocking influencers can strut down the dizzying aisles of galleries. Zachary Schwartz, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2019 And of course, peacocking extends way beyond the steps. Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2019 On an absurdly beautiful autumn day, Thomasin McKenzie is contemplating the blazing trees of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, which are peacocking in bursts of reds and yellows. Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2018 See More
Noun
Many of Hollywood’s most stylish men likewise opted for elevated suiting that prove the male-peacock trend shows no signs of slowing. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2022 Those include an ostrich, emus, a peacock, two sandhill cranes, cockatoos, and a Eurasian eagle owl, according to the sanctuary's website. Georgia News, ajc, 23 Aug. 2022 Details on exactly how the white enamel was sculpted over the black enamel and then etched away to create a peacock motif are explained via the tour’s expert commentary. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2022 See different species of colorful beetles, ants and an ant mound, a cicada, butterflies, a firefly, a stink bug, a ladybug, a peacock jumping spider, a dragonfly, a walking stick, a katydid, a caterpillar and a hissing cockroach. The Courier-Journal, 10 Aug. 2022 Sporting one is a flex without trying too hard—a more casual way to peacock. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 8 Aug. 2022 Birds of a Feather Talk about too pretty to eat—this colorful peacock is another brilliant example of the 3D jelly cake movement. Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2022 Charles Darwin talked about the male peacock, with these giant feathers. Mike Sacks, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2022 The tiger is surrounded by butterflies, a hummingbird, a peacock and a turtle in a bowler hat. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 26 July 2022 Verb
Andy Rosen, the Chairman and CEO of Kaplan, has every reason to peacock around the education landscape. Rod Berger, Forbes, 7 June 2022 No occasion grants celebrities the chance to peacock with quite the unbridled excess of the annual Met Gala; even the Oscars red carpet can't compete as fashion's biggest night. ELLE, 22 Mar. 2022 The congregation may shout or cut a step, and the preacher may peacock a bit to animate the sermon; release can often look like entropy to the untrained eye. Briana Younger, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2021 Police in all those cases demonstrated restraint, standing by while protesters screamed in their faces and peacocked around with guns strapped to their backs. refinery29.com, 27 May 2020 Risky Business’ Starts streaming: April 1 Watching this comedy feels like opening a time capsule and being transported back to 1983, when Tom Cruise was a fresh-faced newcomer and coming-of-age movies centered on rich, peacocking white boys. Eleanor Stanford, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2020 The latter days are open to the public, when art appreciators and peacocking influencers can strut down the dizzying aisles of galleries. Zachary Schwartz, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2019 And of course, peacocking extends way beyond the steps. Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Oct. 2019 On an absurdly beautiful autumn day, Thomasin McKenzie is contemplating the blazing trees of Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, which are peacocking in bursts of reds and yellows. Lauren Mechling, Vogue, 7 Dec. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English pecok, from pe- (from Old English pēa peafowl, from Latin pavon-, pavo peacock) + cok cock
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1818, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing peacock
Kids Definition
peacock
noun
pea·cock ˈpē-ˌkäk
: the male of a very large Asian pheasant that can lift up its very long colorful tail and spread it apart like a fan
Biographical Definition
Peacock
biographical name
Pea·cock ˈpē-ˌkäk
Thomas Love 1785–1866 English novelist and poet