Definition of cockatoo
cockatoos
: any of various large noisy chiefly Australasian crested parrots (family Cacatuidae and especially genus Cacatua)
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of cockatoo from the Web
-
News station CBS2 says the 12-week-old Goffin’s cockatoo was taken Saturday from For Birds Only, a store in Mineola (min-ee-OH’-lah).
-
Measurements of the motion provided a model that, adjusted for size differences, predicted the mid-air turn motions of four insect species, a cockatoo, a hummingbird and a bat.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cockatoo'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of cockatoo
Origin and Etymology of cockatoo
Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua
First Known Use: 1634
COCKATOO Defined for English Language Learners
cockatoo
playDefinition of cockatoo for English Language Learners
-
: a type of large parrot from Australia that has a large colorful bunch of feathers on top of its head
COCKATOO Defined for Kids
cockatoo
playDefinition of cockatoo for Students
cockatoos
: a large, noisy, and usually brightly colored crested parrot mostly of Australia
Learn More about cockatoo
-
See words that rhyme with cockatoo Spanish Central: Translation of cockatoo Nglish: Translation of cockatoo for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cockatoo
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up cockatoo? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!