crowe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral; common in everyday, literary, and biological contexts.
Quick answer
What does “crowe” mean?
A large, glossy black bird, typically of the genus Corvus, known for its intelligence and loud, harsh call.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, glossy black bird, typically of the genus Corvus, known for its intelligence and loud, harsh call.
A verb meaning to utter the characteristic loud, harsh cry of this bird, or metaphorically, to express gleeful triumph (to crow about something). It can also refer to the sound itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The bird name is identical. The verb usage is equally common.
Connotations
Identical connotations of the bird (often associated with death, bad omens, or intelligence) and the verb (boastfulness).
Frequency
Similar frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “crowe” in a Sentence
SUBJ crowSUBJ crow about/over OBJVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crowe” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The crow hopped along the garden fence, its black feathers shining in the sun.
- We could hear the distant caw of a crow from the wood.
American English
- A huge crow landed on the power line outside my window.
- According to the map, it's about 20 miles as the crow flies.
verb
British English
- The team captain crowed over their rivals' defeat, which many found unsporting.
- The baby crowed with happiness when her father picked her up.
American English
- He's been crowing about his new job offer to everyone in the office.
- The rooster crowed at dawn, waking the whole farm.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'The CEO couldn't help but crow about the record quarterly profits.'
Academic
In ornithology/zoology: 'The cognitive abilities of the crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) were studied.'
Everyday
'A crow was pecking at the rubbish bin.' 'He crowed with delight when he won the bet.'
Technical
Not typically used in highly technical fields outside of biology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crowe”
- Incorrect: 'He was crowing like a raven.' (Possible but 'like a crow' is standard). Incorrect: 'The crow of the rooster.' (A rooster 'crows', a bird 'crows', but the sound is specific).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Ravens are larger, have wedge-shaped tails and a deeper, more throaty call. Crows are smaller, have fan-shaped tails, and a higher-pitched 'caw'.
Not always. It can be neutral when describing a rooster's sound or a baby's happy noise. It becomes negative when describing boastful human behavior ('crow over').
Rarely. It's almost exclusively a noun or verb. The adjectival form 'crowlike' exists but is uncommon.
A group of crows is most famously called a 'murder' of crows, though 'flock' is also acceptable in general usage.
A large, glossy black bird, typically of the genus Corvus, known for its intelligence and loud, harsh call.
Crowe is usually neutral; common in everyday, literary, and biological contexts. in register.
Crowe: in British English it is pronounced /krəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /kroʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As the crow flies (in a straight line)”
- “Eat crow (be forced to admit a humiliating mistake)”
- “Crow's feet (wrinkles at the outer corner of the eye)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'CROW' flying straight 'as the crow flies'. The word sounds like its call: 'cr-OH!'
Conceptual Metaphor
BOASTING IS CROWING (He crowed about his promotion). STRAIGHTNESS/DIRECTNESS IS A CROW'S FLIGHT (It's five miles as the crow flies).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'as the crow flies' mean?