caw: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Descriptive, literary, ornithological
Quick answer
What does “caw” mean?
The harsh, raucous cry of a crow, rook, or similar bird.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The harsh, raucous cry of a crow, rook, or similar bird.
To make such a sound; used figuratively to describe any loud, grating, or harsh cry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally applicable to the corvids found in both regions.
Connotations
Connotes a bleak, ominous, or rural atmosphere. Often used in literary contexts to set a scene.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects. More likely encountered in written descriptions than everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “caw” in a Sentence
The crow cawed.A crow cawed from the treetop.We heard the caw of a rook.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “caw” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The rooks cawed noisily in the bare ash trees.
- A solitary raven cawed once and flew off.
American English
- The crows cawed relentlessly at the intruding hawk.
- From the woods, a bird cawed, breaking the silence.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology/ornithology texts for precise description of vocalisations.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used descriptively when recounting a rural experience.
Technical
Used as a specific term in ethology and ornithology for a type of bird call.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “caw”
- Using 'caw' for sounds of non-corvid birds (e.g., 'The eagle cawed' is incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'caww' or 'cawed' as 'cawd'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'shout' or 'yell' for humans.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is specific to birds, primarily corvids. Using it for a human voice is highly figurative and rare.
It is used fairly equally as both a noun (the sound itself) and a verb (the act of making the sound).
'Caw' is for crows/ravens. 'Croak' is for frogs or ravens (deeper). 'Squawk' is for parrots, seagulls, or chickens (sharper, more piercing).
No, it is not formal, but it is specific and descriptive. It belongs to general vocabulary but has a low frequency of use outside descriptive contexts.
The harsh, raucous cry of a crow, rook, or similar bird.
Caw: in British English it is pronounced /kɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɔː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As the crow caws (rare, implying inevitability or a natural sign).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
The word sounds like the noise it describes: CAW. Imagine a crow opening its beak and saying the word 'caw' as its call.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS ANIMAL (The sound is named directly after the creature that makes it).
Practice
Quiz
Which bird is most associated with the verb 'to caw'?