CROW

Definition of CROW

CROW Noun and Verb

Crow is primarily a noun, referring to a bird belonging to the genus Corvus, known for its black plumage, intelligence, and distinctive harsh call. It can also function as a verb, meaning to make a loud, high-pitched sound, or to boast or brag triumphantly.

CROW as a noun

As a noun, a crow is a medium to large bird recognized for its entirely black feathers, strong beak, and notable adaptability to various environments worldwide. Crows are highly intelligent birds capable of problem-solving, tool use, and complex social behaviors. They are often found in both rural and urban settings and play significant roles in cultural symbolism, folklore, and mythology across many societies.

Symbolism and Cultural Significance: Beyond its biological identity, the crow carries rich symbolic meanings in different cultures. It is often associated with intelligence, mystery, transformation, and sometimes omens or death, depending on the cultural context. In literature and art, the crow frequently represents the duality of nature—both the dark and the insightful.

CROW as a verb

As a verb, crow describes the act of producing a loud, sharp, or harsh call. This use often refers to roosters but can extend metaphorically to any triumphant or boastful vocalization. The verb captures the idea of loudly proclaiming success, victory, or pride, usually in a somewhat boastful or self-congratulatory manner.

To Boast or Brag: Another common usage of crow as a verb is to express pride or gloating about an achievement or good fortune. This figurative use conveys the human tendency to vocalize triumph or satisfaction, sometimes irritatingly, and is often used in informal or narrative contexts to emphasize someone’s exultation or boasting.

Natural and Social Contexts: In natural history and wildlife studies, crows are subjects of interest due to their cognitive abilities and social structures. From a human perspective, the verb form of crow appears in everyday speech and literature to highlight moments of pride or declaration. The interplay of both noun and verb forms illustrates how language connects animal behavior with human expression.

In conclusion, crow is both a noun and a verb with distinct but related meanings. As a noun, it identifies a smart and culturally significant bird known for its black feathers and loud calls. As a verb, it depicts making a loud sound or expressing triumphant boasting. This dual usage reflects the bird’s natural characteristics and the human tendency to vocalize pride, making crow a word rich in natural, cultural, and linguistic dimensions.

Examples of CROW in a sentence

CROW as a noun in a sentence

• A loud crow woke me up early this morning.
• The black crow perched on the tree branch, watching carefully.
• Crows are known for their intelligence and problem-solving skills.
• The farmer tried to scare away the crows from his crops.
• I spotted a crow carrying shiny objects in its beak.
• The eerie crow caw echoed through the quiet forest.
• Several crows gathered around the picnic table looking for food.
• The story features a clever crow that outsmarts the other animals.

CROW as a verb in a sentence

• The rooster began to crow at dawn, signaling the start of the day.
• He liked to crow about his accomplishments to anyone who would listen.
• The team’s captain would crow loudly after every victory.
• Don’t crow too soon; the game isn’t over yet.
• The victorious player couldn’t help but crow after winning the championship.
• She began to crow with excitement upon hearing the good news.
• The rooster’s crowing woke up the entire neighborhood.
• He tends to crow whenever he gets praise for his work.

Origin of CROW

The term crow has an etymological history connected to both the bird itself and the sound it makes.

Semantic Context: As a noun, crow refers to a black bird known for its intelligence and distinctive loud call. As a verb, to crow means to make a loud, shrill cry, often associated with the bird, or figuratively, to boast or express triumph.

• Etymological Roots: The word crow originates from the Old English crāwe, which refers to the bird. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old Norse kráka and Dutch kraai. The verb form, meaning “to make the characteristic call,” comes from the imitative sound of the bird’s cry, an example of onomatopoeia.
• Historical Development: In Old English and throughout Middle English, crow was used both as the name of the bird and the verb describing its call. Over time, the verb meaning extended metaphorically to describe human behavior, especially boastful or triumphant speech.
• Cultural and Figurative Applications: The crow bird has various symbolic meanings in folklore and literature, often associated with intelligence, mystery, or omens. The verb form, “to crow,” is commonly used to depict boasting or gloating after success.
• Current Usage: Today, crow is used both literally for the bird and figuratively for expressing pride or triumph. The word remains common in everyday language, literature, and idiomatic expressions.

The term crow illustrates the connection between natural sounds and language development, evolving from the bird’s call to metaphorical human speech.