crop milk: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1technical/scientific
Quick answer
What does “crop milk” mean?
A nutritious substance, similar in function to mammalian milk, produced in the crop (a pouch in the throat) of certain birds and fed to their young.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nutritious substance, similar in function to mammalian milk, produced in the crop (a pouch in the throat) of certain birds and fed to their young.
It can refer to the analogous production of nutrient-rich secretions by other animals for offspring feeding. In broader metaphorical use, it may describe any substance or resource produced to nourish a dependent population.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or lexical differences. The term is standard in ornithological literature in both regions.
Connotations
Purely biological/zoological.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, used almost exclusively in scientific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “crop milk” in a Sentence
[Bird species] produce(s) crop milk.The young are fed on crop milk.Crop milk is secreted by the lining of the crop.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Common in biology, zoology, and ornithology papers discussing avian parental care.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain of use; precise zoological term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crop milk”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crop milk”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crop milk”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'The bird crop milks its young').
- Confusing it with mammalian milk or plant-based 'milks'.
- Misspelling as 'crop-milk' (hyphen is not standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a dairy product. It is a secretion produced in the bird's crop, analogous to milk in its nutritive function for young.
It is composed of sloughed-off, fat-rich cells from the lining of the crop, often containing proteins and antibodies.
No, it is specific to only some species, notably pigeons, doves, flamingos, and some penguins.
This is not a practical or common concept. It is produced in very small quantities solely for feeding bird chicks.
A nutritious substance, similar in function to mammalian milk, produced in the crop (a pouch in the throat) of certain birds and fed to their young.
Crop milk is usually technical/scientific in register.
Crop milk: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrɒp ˈmɪlk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkrɑːp ˈmɪlk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Birds don't have udders, but pigeons have a 'crop' where they make 'milk' for their squabs.
Conceptual Metaphor
NURTURING IS MILK-PRODUCTION; PARENTAL CARE IS FEEDING
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following birds is known to produce crop milk?