1
2
: a device (such as a faucet or valve) for regulating the flow of a liquid
the cock of an automobile radiator
3
a
: a chief person : leader
b
: a person of spirit and often of a certain swagger or arrogance
4
a
: the hammer in the lock of a firearm
b
: the cocked position of the hammer
5
usually vulgar
: penis
cocked; cocking; cocks
2
: to turn, tip, or stick up
a horse's tail cocking almost straight up
3
: to position the hammer (see hammer entry 1 sense 2b(2)) of a firearm for firing
1
a
: to draw the hammer of (a firearm) back and set for firing
also
: to set (the trigger) for firing
b
: to draw or bend back in preparation for throwing or hitting
a quarterback cocking his arm
cock a bat
c
: to set (a mechanism, such as a camera shutter) for tripping (see trip entry 1 sense transitive 3)
2
a
: to set erect
a dog with one ear cocked
b
: to turn, tip, or tilt usually to one side
cock one's head
3
: to turn up (something, such as a hat brim)
: a small pile (as of hay)
cocked; cocking; cocks
: to put (hay or something similar) into small piles
Examples of cock in a Sentence
Noun (1)
an automobile radiator cock
Verb (1)
cocked his head to the side as he listened to her quizzically
Noun (2)
a slight cock of his head suggested that he was listening in on our conversation
Noun (3)
a cock of hay
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
Porter cocked her head and mused that the house had been a strong candidate for sale, but news that the pope had grown up there might be a sign to move ahead with buying it.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
The former became fighting cocks and the latter became sows.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for cock
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
Carmelo Anthony, who was hosting Queen for the weekend, cocked his head.
—Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025
Porter cocked her head and mused that the house had been a strong candidate for sale, but news that the pope had grown up there might be a sign to move ahead with buying it.
—Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025
Noun
The story is told from Dah’s perspective, as Jocelyn—who displays a quasi-mystical rapport with fighting cocks—suffers an emotional breakdown, putting their business and their lives in danger.
—The New Yorker, 26 July 2024
The former became fighting cocks and the latter became sows.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for cock
Cite this Entry
“Cock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cock. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cock
1 of 4 noun1
: the adult male of a bird and especially the domestic chicken
2
: a device (as a faucet or valve) for controlling the flow of a liquid
3
: the cocked position of the hammer of a firearm
a rifle at half cock
cock
2 of 4 verb1
a
: to draw back the hammer of (a gun) in readiness for firing
cock a pistol
b
: to set or draw back in readiness for some action
cock your arm to throw
2
: to turn, tip, or tilt upward or to one side
cock one's head
cock
3 of 4 noun
: tilt entry 2 sense 4, slant
a cock of the head
cock
4 of 4 noun
: a small pile (as of hay)
Etymology
Noun
Old English cocc "cock, rooster"; probably in imitation of the sound it makes
Noun
Middle English cok "small pile"
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