Crow Meaning
/kɹəʊ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong conical beak, with projecting bristles; it has a harsh, croaking call.
nounAny of various dark-coloured nymphalid butterflies of the genus Euploea.
Sentence Examples
The bird on the roof is a crow.
A crow is as black as coal.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
At dawn the black ____ perched on the fence let out a loud caw.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bird on the roof is a ____.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English crowe, from Old English crāwe, from Proto-West Germanic *krāā, from Proto-Germanic *krēǭ (compare West Frisian krie, Dutch kraai, German Krähe), from *krēaną (“to crow”). See below.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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."
— 1922, E.R. Eddison, The Worm Ouroborus:
"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."
— 1796, Matthew Lewis, The Monk, Folio Society, published 1985, page 267:
"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."
— 1953, Samuel Beckett, Watt, [Paris]: Olympia Press, →OCLC:
"“Ay,” put in a young man, who had the reputation of being the smartest “crow” in London—“‘fishers of men,’ as the parson says.”"
— 1874, Marcus Clarke, For the Term of his Natural Life, Penguin, published 2009, page 53:
"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."
— 1975, Michael Crichton, The Great Train Robbery:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
At dawn the black ____ perched on the fence let out a loud caw.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bird on the roof is a ____.