coop

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈküp  ˈku̇p 

plural coops

1

: a cage or small enclosure (as for chickens, ducks, or other fowl)

also : a small building for housing poultry see also chicken coop

2

a

: a confined area

b

: jail

see also:

fly the coop

coop

2 of 3

verb

cooped; cooping; coops

transitive verb

1

: to confine in a restricted and often crowded area

—usually used with up

children cooped up in the house all day

2

: to place or keep in a coop : pen

—often used with up

co-op

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈkō-ˌäp 

kō-ˈäp

: cooperative

Synonyms of coop

Noun (1)

• penitentiary
• jail
• prison

Verb

• house
• box (in)
• mew (up)
• fence (in)
• include
• hem (in)
• encase
• enclose
• wall (in)

Examples of coop in a Sentence

Noun (1)

was thrown in the coop for disturbing the peace

a chicken coop

Verb

restless kids cooped up in the house on a rainy day

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Monster depicts Lizzie keeping a great number of doves as her dear pets, housing them in an elaborate coop out back. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026

Kept in coops throughout the region, the birds are routinely tested for viruses. — Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

The garden, beekeeping hives, and coop with more than a dozen egg-laying chickens were all Wojcicki's idea—a way to connect her five children to nature and part of Wojcicki's healthy lifestyle. — Alice Park, Time, 12 May 2026

Instead of battling for an all-star berth in his final Little League season or attending Don Mattingly Bobblehead Night at Yankee Stadium, he’s been forced to spend the spring cooped up in a neighborhood where ambulance sirens have wailed nonstop. — Brendan I. Koerner, Wired, 19 May 2020

Noun

Schools that made these lists offer opportunities like study abroad experiences, co-ops or internships and senior capstones. — Finch Walker, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Lockie compared the overall collaboration process to the ones we're used to in other space co-op games, but of course, being inside the Hail Mary and using your actual hands makes Journey Among the Stars more immersive. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cupe; akin to Old English cȳpe basket

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coop

• chicken coop
• chicken-coop jump
• coop up
• fly the coop

Rhymes for coop

• coupe
• croup
• droop
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop
• loop
• lupe
• oop
• poop
• roop

Kids Definition

coop

1 of 3 noun

ˈküp  ˈku̇p 

: a cage or small enclosure or building for housing poultry or small animals

coop

2 of 3 verb

: to place or keep in or as if in a coop

co-op

3 of 3 noun

ˈkō-ˌäp, 

kō-ˈäp

: cooperative entry 2