1
2
: a device (such as a faucet or valve) for regulating the flow of a liquid
the cock of an automobile radiator
3
a
: a chief person : leader
b
: a person of spirit and often of a certain swagger or arrogance
4
a
: the hammer in the lock of a firearm
b
: the cocked position of the hammer
5
usually vulgar
: penis
cocked; cocking; cocks
2
: to turn, tip, or stick up
a horse's tail cocking almost straight up
3
: to position the hammer (see hammer entry 1 sense 2b(2)) of a firearm for firing
1
a
: to draw the hammer of (a firearm) back and set for firing
also
: to set (the trigger) for firing
b
: to draw or bend back in preparation for throwing or hitting
a quarterback cocking his arm
cock a bat
c
: to set (a mechanism, such as a camera shutter) for tripping (see trip entry 1 sense transitive 3)
2
a
: to set erect
a dog with one ear cocked
b
: to turn, tip, or tilt usually to one side
cock one's head
3
: to turn up (something, such as a hat brim)
: a small pile (as of hay)
cocked; cocking; cocks
: to put (hay or something similar) into small piles
Synonyms
Examples of cock in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
My daughter, sitting cross-legged in the passenger seat of our idling van, cocked an ear in my direction.
—Amory Rowe Salem and Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 9 Jan. 2024
In the dressing room, fake Pat showed Galvan his Patrick walk — head cocked to one side then the other.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024
Ignoring both his defender and earth’s gravity, Berridge cocked his right arm back and proceeded to slam the most deafening two points of his career late in the fourth quarter of the Central Coast Section Open Division boys championship game.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024
There’s a disquiet to the way the teenage Foster grins slightly, cocks one eyebrow, swallows hard.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2024
Walter jumps up, a tiny sliver of fluff in a red sweater, his ear cocked.
—Laura Trujillo, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024
The crow is on a branch of the yew tree, cocking its head and holding something on one side of its beak, as if to peer at it with the left eye.
—Anne Carson, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024
When fully cocked, the bow measures 23 inches in width.
—Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023
Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
Verb
Approaching a stand of trees, Mike keeps a hand on his rifle and his ear cocked.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
My daughter, sitting cross-legged in the passenger seat of our idling van, cocked an ear in my direction.
—Amory Rowe Salem and Cheri Lucas Rowlands, Longreads, 9 Jan. 2024
In the dressing room, fake Pat showed Galvan his Patrick walk — head cocked to one side then the other.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2024
Ignoring both his defender and earth’s gravity, Berridge cocked his right arm back and proceeded to slam the most deafening two points of his career late in the fourth quarter of the Central Coast Section Open Division boys championship game.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024
There’s a disquiet to the way the teenage Foster grins slightly, cocks one eyebrow, swallows hard.
—Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2024
Walter jumps up, a tiny sliver of fluff in a red sweater, his ear cocked.
—Laura Trujillo, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024
The crow is on a branch of the yew tree, cocking its head and holding something on one side of its beak, as if to peer at it with the left eye.
—Anne Carson, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024
When fully cocked, the bow measures 23 inches in width.
—Tony Hansen, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2023
Noun
The former became fighting cocks and the latter became sows.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cock. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cock
1 of 4 noun1
: the adult male of a bird and especially the domestic chicken
2
: a device (as a faucet or valve) for controlling the flow of a liquid
3
: the cocked position of the hammer of a firearm
a rifle at half cock
cock
2 of 4 verb1
a
: to draw back the hammer of (a gun) in readiness for firing
cock a pistol
b
: to set or draw back in readiness for some action
cock your arm to throw
2
: to turn, tip, or tilt upward or to one side
cock one's head
cock
3 of 4 noun
: tilt entry 2 sense 4, slant
a cock of the head
cock
4 of 4 noun
: a small pile (as of hay)
Etymology
Noun
Old English cocc "cock, rooster"; probably in imitation of the sound it makes
Noun
Middle English cok "small pile"
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