cock
word
Definition
A cock is an adult male chicken. In some varieties of English, especially older or regional use, it can also mean a tap or valve, and it is also a vulgar word for the penis.
Usage & Nuances
The animal meaning is neutral, but it sounds old-fashioned in everyday modern English, where many speakers prefer 'rooster', especially in American English. The sexual meaning is very vulgar and common in insults or explicit speech. The tap/valve meaning appears mostly in technical, fixed, or regional phrases such as 'stopcock'.
Example Sentences
The cock started crowing before sunrise.
basic
There is a cock in the farmyard with three hens.
basic
Turn the cock off before you remove the pipe.
basic
My granddad always called the bird a cock, never a rooster.
natural
The plumber said the old cock was leaking again.
natural
He got kicked out for making jokes about his cock in front of everyone.
natural