coop

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈküp  ˈku̇p 

1

: a cage or small enclosure (as for poultry)

also : a small building for housing poultry

2

a

: a confined area

b

: jail

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

Noun (1)

• bastille
• big house [slang]
• bridewell
• brig
• calaboose
• can
• clink [slang]
• cooler
• guardroom
• hock
• hold
• hoosegow
• jail
• jailhouse
• joint [slang]
• jug
• lockup
• nick [British slang]
• pen
• penitentiary
• pokey [slang]
• prison
• quod [British slang]
• slam
• slammer
• stir [slang]
• stockade
• tolbooth [Scottish]

Verb

• box (in)
• cage
• closet
• corral
• encage
• encase
• enclose
• inclose
• envelop
• fence (in)
• hedge
• hem (in)
• house
• immure
• include
• mew (up)
• pen
• 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

In a 2023 episode of the home renovation show, Hall and Haack proudly showed off their chicken coop which features black and white paint and a double gable roof. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024

Since then, the House of Harlow founder has established a downright wholesome cottagecore-style home life for herself, raising a menagerie of pets, gardening, beekeeping, and harvesting eggs from her backyard chicken coop. —Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 2 Dec. 2024

Verb

Three relative strangers cooped up underground indefinitely to avoid an unseen danger, who don't entirely trust each other? —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 May 2020

There’s something about being cooped up that calls for an abundance of comfort food, and nothing compares to a big bowl of cheesy baked ziti, lemony fusilli, or soupy ramen. —Whitney Perry, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2020

Noun

The project would ultimately cost almost $7 million, more than 100 times the co-op’s annual revenue. —Austin Corona, The Arizona Republic, 8 Dec. 2024

The game features up to 4-player co-op in a colorful world that will keep your heart pounding. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cupe; akin to Old English cȳpe basket

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1861, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing coop

• coop up
• fly the coop

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