Cooing

Definition

The soft murmuring sound made by a bird, especially a dove or pigeon, or a similar sound made by a human, particularly in affectionate conversation.

Parts of Speech

Verb (past participle), Noun

Pronunciation

• IPA Pronunciation:
• American: /ˈkuː.ɪŋ/
• British: /ˈkuː.ɪŋ/
• Respelling:
• American: koo-ing
• British: koo-ing

Etymology

Derived from Middle English "couen", imitative of the sound made by doves.

Derivatives

• Coo
• Cooer
• Cooingly
• Cooish
• Coo-like

Synonyms

• Murmuring
• Babbling
• Purring

Antonyms

• Shouting
• Yelling
• Screaming

Usage

• Verb (past participle): The baby was cooing in her crib, making the mother smile.
• Noun: The soft cooing of the doves could be heard in the distance.

Related Terms

• Pigeonhole
• Dovecote
• Murmur

Detailed Definition

Verb (past participle)

1. To make a soft murmuring sound, like that of a dove or pigeon or a contented infant.

Example: "She cooed at the baby, trying to calm him down."

Noun

1. The sound made by a bird, especially a dove or pigeon, or by a human in a gentle, affectionate manner.

Example: "The cooing of pigeons on the rooftop provided a soothing background noise."