cock

1 noun

1 CHICKEN (C) especially BrE an adult male chicken; rooster AmE

-see also: cock-a-doodle-doo

2 SEX ORGAN (C) taboo a penis

3 cock and bull story a story or excuse that is silly and unlikely but is told as if it were true: She gave me some cock and bull story about the dog eating her homework.

4 CONTROL FLOW (C) something that controls the flow of liquid out of a pipe or container; tap 1 (1)

-see also: ballcock, stopcock

5 MALE BIRD (C) an adult male bird of any kind: a cock robin

6 MAN (C) BrE old-fashioned a word used by a man when talking to another man he knows well.

7 cock of the walk old-fashioned if you describe someone as behaving like the cock of the walk, they are behaving as if they were better or more important than other people

-see also: half cocked half 2 (11) 2 verb (T)

1 to lift a part of your body so that it is upright, or hold a part of your body at an angle: Paul cocked his head to one side as he considered my idea. | The little dog cocked a leg against the lamppost and urinated.

2 to pull back the hammer 1 (5) of a gun so that it is ready to be fired

3 to put your hat on at an angle; tilt 1 (1)

4 keep an ear cocked informal to pay close attention because you want to be sure you hear something you expect or think may happen: She kept an ear cocked for the sound of Joe's key in the front door.

5 cock a snook BrE informal to show clearly that you do not respect someone or something

(+ at): The artist cocked a snook at the critics by exhibiting an empty frame. cock sth up phrasal verb (T) BrE informal to spoil something such as an arrangement or plans, especially by making a stupid mistake: His secretary really cocked up his travelling schedule and he's furious about it. -see also: cock-up