to caw
13
7.1
- verb
- /kɔ/
- Behind the house, a crow cawed irritably as the rains began.
- crow cawed
- bird cawed
- seagull cawed
Examples
-
I heard a crow caw repeatedly from the tree outside my window this morning.
-
A family of large crows swoops down, cawing through the trees.
Academic text (2007) -
Then the crow cawed in what for him was a laugh.
Fiction book (1996) -
I scream and cackle and caw with them as they sit on my garden fence.
Fiction book (1993) -
Caw, caw, caw!
-
As he raised his eyes, the crow cawed again, even more irritably now.
Fiction book (1992) -
Water sloshed below and seabirds cawed and sailed back and forth in the cool air.
Fiction book (1991) -
A couple of crows cawed over their heads and perched on the shovel and pick in the truck.
Fiction book (1993) -
Crows cawed, and locusts, heated by the sun, cut loose their shrill, wavering cries.
Fiction book (1996) -
As the sun began to set, the crows started to caw loudly, waking up the neighborhood.
Synonyms
70
4.0
To make a loud, high, sharp sound that startles people
69
2.9
To make a loud high sound often because of fear, pain or excitement
33
4.7
To make a loud, harsh cry like a bird
3
7.2
To make a loud high sound like a baby or bird
1
9.9
Make a loud, rough sound like a shout to show anger or complaint
1
9.9
To make a short, high, harsh sound like an owl or old gate
1
9.9
To make a loud harsh croaking sound like a goose
To make a loud, harsh sound like a crow
How Harsh
Surface Forms
Etymology
Caw is a word that copies the crow's cry 'caw', so it names both the sound and the action. That is why to caw means 'to make a harsh, rough call' like a crow.