coo

¹

[koo]

verb (used without object)

cooed, cooing 

1. to utter or imitate the soft, murmuring sound characteristic of doves.

2. to murmur or talk fondly or amorously.

verb (used with object)

cooed, cooing 

1. to utter by cooing.

noun

1. a cooing sound.

coo

²

[koo]

interjection

British Slang.

1. (used to express surprise or amazement.)

Coo

³

[kaw-aw]

noun

1. Italian name of Kos.

COO

⁴

1. chief operating officer.

coo

¹

/ kuː /

verb

1. (intr) (of doves, pigeons, etc) to make a characteristic soft throaty call

2. (tr) to speak in a soft murmur

3. (intr) to murmur lovingly (esp in the phrase bill and coo )

noun

1. the sound of cooing

interjection

1. slang,  an exclamation of surprise, awe, etc

CoO

²

abbreviation

1. cost of ownership

COO

³

abbreviation

1. chief operating officer

Other Word Forms

• cooer noun
• cooingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of coo¹

First recorded in 1660–70; imitative

Origin of coo²

First recorded in 1910–15; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

On Wednesday morning, just hours before Target’s much-anticipated quarterly earnings call, the embattled retailer made a notable announcement: CEO Brian Cornell will relinquish his position after 11 years on the job, stepping back to chair the board of directors that had just unanimously voted to appoint COO Michael Fiddelke as his successor.

From Slate

If Richins, the utility’s COO, feels exasperated by the two decades it took to overcome complaints from Gilbert and others, Gilbert thinks mainly about the outcome for her side.

From Salon

McCain also tried to extract sentimental details about the passionate romance between the Vances, for her audience to coo over.

From Salon

After birth, a baby is immediately immersed in a sea of words and rhythm, as their caregivers coo over them, chatter and sing lullabies.

From Los Angeles Times

Surfing YouTube for throat whistlers, Saxon came across a former circus performer named Paul “The Birdman” Manalatos who had developed a signature coo.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• murmur