📖 Definition & Meaning
Cock (noun) /kɒk/ or /kɑːk/ (UK/US)
- Primary (vulgar slang): An informal, often explicit term for the penis, used in sexual or anatomical contexts.
- Secondary (standard English): A male bird, especially a rooster (common in farming or bird-related contexts).
- Verb (less common): To tilt or angle something upward (e.g., “cock one’s head”).
- Slang/Idioms: Used in various expressions, both literal and metaphorical.
🧠 Simple Explanation
“Cock” can mean a penis (in informal or vulgar speech), or a male chicken. It’s used in everyday language, idioms, and in sexual contexts.
🗣️ Pronunciation
- IPA: /kɒk/ (UK), /kɑːk/ (US)
- Rhymes with: rock, lock, block
✍️ Grammatical Formation
- Noun: “He got hit in the cock.” / “The cock crowed at dawn.”
- Verb: “She cocked her eyebrow.”
- Adjective (rare/slang): “cock-sure” (arrogantly confident)
🔁 Prepositions & Meaning Shift
- Cock of the walk = someone who thinks they are in charge
- Cock up (UK slang) = a mistake or failure (“He made a right cock-up of it.”)
- Cock back = to pull something (e.g., weapon or body part) into a ready position
🧩 Word Comparisons
| Word | Meaning | Tone | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cock | Penis (slang) / Male bird | Vulgar / neutral | Sexual / farming |
| Dick | Penis (slang) / Mean person | Vulgar | Sexual / insult |
| Penis | Medical term | Formal | Clinical |
| Rooster | Male chicken | Neutral | Farming |
🧾 Real-Life Examples
- He laughed when the rooster (cock) crowed loudly.
- She joked about grabbing his cock.
- He cocked the pistol and took aim.
- Don’t cock up the presentation tomorrow!
🧩 Idioms & Expressions
- Cock of the walk – a proud or dominant person
- Cock-up – a blunder or failure (British slang)
- Cock-a-doodle-doo – sound a rooster makes
- Cock an eyebrow – raise an eyebrow in surprise or suspicion
- Cock and bull story – an unbelievable or exaggerated tale
🔗 Synonyms & Antonyms
- Synonyms (sexual): penis, dick, member, shaft, phallus
- Synonyms (animal): rooster, male chicken
- Antonyms: vagina, hen (female bird), clitoris (female anatomy)
- Related sexual terms: erection, testicles, foreskin, ejaculation
❓ Does ‘Cock’ Have a Connection to Sexuality?
Yes. When referring to the penis, “cock” is commonly used in pornography, erotic literature, sexting, and informal conversations. It’s considered explicit and often conveys a more graphic, masculine or dominant tone than the neutral word “penis.”
🔤 Common Collocations
- Hard cock, big cock, stroke his cock, suck cock, cock ring, cock tease
- Cock crow, cock fight, cock up, cock back (non-sexual contexts)
💬 Sample Sentences
- He adjusted his pants to hide his erection, his cock straining against the fabric.
- The cock crowed as the sun rose over the farm.
- Don’t cock it up this time—focus.
- She cocked her head to one side, confused.
- He was the cock of the walk in the office until the new manager arrived.
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