Illustration of cockatoo
cockatoo
noun
cock·a·too
ˈkä-kə-ˌtü 
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy chiefly Australasian crested parrots (family Cacatuidae and especially genus Cacatua)
Examples of cockatoo in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In experiments, cockatoos have danced to music and video called other parrots.
—
Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023
The birds represented a variety of species, including macaws, grey parrots, cockatoos and parakeets.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Irwin's husband Chandler Powell, 27, also shared a photo from the party on Instagram, holding a cockatoo on his arm while his daughter looked in awe.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Tucked among leafy tree branches, caged macaws and cockatoos watched from above as children plunged their greasy hands into piles of fries.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
The kit includes parts to build a white rabbit, a cockatoo, or a white seal, each with moving parts.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 18 Mar. 2024
The original setting for the piece was designed in 1965 after Schlumberger encountered a yellow cockatoo.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2024
The rabbit can move its head, legs, mouth, and ears, and the cockatoo can rotate its head 360 degrees and move its wings and tail.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
But four of the family’s parakeets were killed, while nine others and a cockatoo survived.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2024
Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023
The birds represented a variety of species, including macaws, grey parrots, cockatoos and parakeets.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024
Irwin's husband Chandler Powell, 27, also shared a photo from the party on Instagram, holding a cockatoo on his arm while his daughter looked in awe.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024
Tucked among leafy tree branches, caged macaws and cockatoos watched from above as children plunged their greasy hands into piles of fries.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
The kit includes parts to build a white rabbit, a cockatoo, or a white seal, each with moving parts.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 18 Mar. 2024
The original setting for the piece was designed in 1965 after Schlumberger encountered a yellow cockatoo.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2024
The rabbit can move its head, legs, mouth, and ears, and the cockatoo can rotate its head 360 degrees and move its wings and tail.
—Sharon Brandwein, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
But four of the family’s parakeets were killed, while nine others and a cockatoo survived.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cockatoo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cockatoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockatoo. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cockatoo
noun
cock·a·too
ˈkäk-ə-ˌtü
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy usually showy chiefly Australasian parrots that have a bunch of feathers on the head
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