cockatoo

noun

cock·​a·​too ˈkä-kə-ˌtü How to pronounce cockatoo (audio)
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy chiefly Australasian crested parrots (family Cacatuidae and especially genus Cacatua)

Illustration of cockatoo

Illustration of cockatoo

Examples of cockatoo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Guinness World Record for the oldest bird belongs to a cockatoo named Cookie that made it to the impressive age of 82. Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024 Two brown bears, a lion, a couple of yaks, five cockatoos, 25 pheasants and 40 mandarin ducks. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024 An African lion, two bears, two domestic yaks, 25 pheasants, 40 mandarin ducks and five white cockatoos were sent to North Korea, according to the statement. Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 Their Hickory Hill estate in McLean, Va. was a rotating roster of secretaries of state, film stars and celebrities along with snakes, ponies, horses, hamsters, homing pigeons, ducks, geese, cockatoos and a huge turtle. Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 10 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cockatoo 

Word History

Etymology

Dutch kaketoe, from Malay kakatua

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cockatoo was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near cockatoo

Cite this Entry

“Cockatoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cockatoo. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

cockatoo

noun
cock·​a·​too ˈkäk-ə-ˌtü How to pronounce cockatoo (audio)
plural cockatoos
: any of various large noisy usually showy chiefly Australasian parrots that have a bunch of feathers on the head

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