Rooster: meaning, definitions and examples

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rooster

[ˈruːstər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

animal

A rooster is a male chicken with brightly colored feathers on its head and neck. Roosters are known for their loud crowing at dawn, which serves to mark their territory and attract hens.

Synonyms

cock, cockerel.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rooster	Commonly used in the United States and other English-speaking regions to refer to a male chicken. Suitable for general use, including in farming, pet ownership, and culinary contexts. The rooster crowed early in the morning We have a beautiful rooster on our farm
cock	More frequently used in the United Kingdom and other regions. Also used in some idiomatic expressions. Can sometimes have a vulgar connotation when used out of context, so it's important to be cautious. The farmyard cock was very noisy He was strutting around like a cock
cockerel	Specifically refers to a young male chicken, typically under one year old. Used primarily in farming and breeding contexts where age is relevant. The cockerel will grow into a strong rooster She bought a cockerel for her small farm

Word

Description / Examples

rooster

Commonly used in the United States and other English-speaking regions to refer to a male chicken. Suitable for general use, including in farming, pet ownership, and culinary contexts.

The rooster crowed early in the morning
We have a beautiful rooster on our farm

cock

More frequently used in the United Kingdom and other regions. Also used in some idiomatic expressions. Can sometimes have a vulgar connotation when used out of context, so it's important to be cautious.

The farmyard cock was very noisy
He was strutting around like a cock

cockerel

Specifically refers to a young male chicken, typically under one year old. Used primarily in farming and breeding contexts where age is relevant.

The cockerel will grow into a strong rooster
She bought a cockerel for her small farm

Examples of usage

The rooster crowed loudly to announce the start of the day.
The rooster strutted proudly around the farmyard.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

informal

In informal language, a rooster can refer to a man who is very confident and proud, often in a boastful way.

Synonyms

braggart, show off.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
rooster	A domestic bird, often a male chicken, typically associated with farms. It's used when specifically referring to the animal. The rooster crowed loudly at dawn, waking up the entire household. We have a rooster and a few hens in our backyard.
braggart	A person who often boasts about their achievements or possessions. Usually carries a negative connotation. Nobody likes talking to him because he's such a braggart. She's a braggart, always talking about her expensive car.
show off	Someone who attempts to attract attention and admiration by boasting or displaying their abilities or possessions. It can be neutral or slightly negative depending on the context. He's such a show off, always trying to impress everyone with his fancy gadgets. She likes to show off her dance moves at the party.

Word

Description / Examples

rooster

A domestic bird, often a male chicken, typically associated with farms. It's used when specifically referring to the animal.

The rooster crowed loudly at dawn, waking up the entire household.
We have a rooster and a few hens in our backyard.

braggart

A person who often boasts about their achievements or possessions. Usually carries a negative connotation.

Nobody likes talking to him because he's such a braggart.
She's a braggart, always talking about her expensive car.

show off

Someone who attempts to attract attention and admiration by boasting or displaying their abilities or possessions. It can be neutral or slightly negative depending on the context.

He's such a show off, always trying to impress everyone with his fancy gadgets.
She likes to show off her dance moves at the party.

Examples of usage

He strutted around like he was the rooster of the group.
The rooster of the office always brags about his accomplishments.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term 'rooster' comes from the word 'roost,' meaning to rest or sleep, highlighting the bird's nature of perching.
In some cultures, 'cockerel' is used instead of 'rooster' to denote a young male chicken.

Cultural Significance

In many cultures, roosters symbolize bravery and are often featured in folklore and art.
In Chinese culture, the rooster is one of the 12 animals of the zodiac, representing punctuality and fidelity.

Biology

Roosters have a unique feather arrangement that allows them to show off their colorful plumage to attract hens.
They are known for their aggressive behavior, especially when defending their flock or territory.

Folklore

In various legends, roosters are believed to ward off evil spirits with their crowing.
The phrase 'the early bird gets the worm' often relies on the rooster's early morning call as a reminder to be proactive.

Agriculture

Farmers often keep at least one rooster in a flock to protect hens and promote breeding.
Roosters play a vital role in natural pest control by eating insects around the farm.

Translations

Translations of the word "rooster" in other languages:

🇵🇹 galo

🇮🇳 मुर्गा

🇩🇪 Hahn

🇮🇩 ayam jantan

🇺🇦 півень

🇵🇱 kogut

🇯🇵 雄鶏 (おんどり)

🇫🇷 coq

🇪🇸 gallo

🇹🇷 horoz

🇰🇷 수탉 (sutak)

🇸🇦 ديك (diik)

🇨🇿 kohout

🇸🇰 kohút

🇨🇳 公鸡 (gōng jī)

🇸🇮 petelin

🇮🇸 hane

🇰🇿 қораз

🇬🇪 მამალი (mamali)

🇦🇿 xoruz

🇲🇽 gallo

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,248, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
22245 pruritus
22246 boreal
22247 pliers
22248 rooster
22249 nonpartisan
22250 crayon
22251 tamper
...