What does crow mean?
A crow is a large, glossy-black bird belonging to the genus Corvus, found across much of the world and renowned for its intelligence, adaptability, and harsh cawing call. Crows are among the most cognitively advanced animals known: they use tools, solve puzzles, remember human faces, and even appear to hold grudges. The word also functions as a verb, describing either the shrill morning cry of a rooster or, figuratively, boastful gloating — as when someone crows about their success. This second sense gives rise to the American idiom 'to eat crow,' meaning to suffer humiliating admission of error. In everyday language, crow appears in fixed expressions such as 'as the crow flies,' meaning in a straight direct line. Richly woven into folklore and literature, the crow carries connotations ranging from ominousness and death to cleverness and resourcefulness, making it one of English's most evocative bird names.
A large, intelligent, glossy-black bird of the genus Corvus, having a harsh cawing call.
"Crows gathered noisily in the bare branches at dusk."
In North America the common species is the American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos); in Britain and Europe it is largely the carrion crow (Corvus corone).
(of a rooster) To utter its characteristic loud shrill cry; (of a person) To boast or gloat loudly about something.
"She couldn't resist crowing over her rival's defeat."
When used of people, 'crow' usually implies smug or triumphant boasting and often carries disapproval.
Standard regular plural; 'a murder of crows' is the traditional collective term, though 'flock' is equally correct in modern usage.
"A murder of crows descended on the stubble field."
Crows can recognize individual human faces and hold grudges — and 'eating crow' has meant swallowing humiliation in America since the early 1800s.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crow
The noun 'crow' comes from Old English 'crāwe', echoing the bird's harsh call, and is related to Old High German 'krāwa'; it ultimately belongs to the Germanic family. The verb sense of a rooster's cry developed from the same imitative root, while the figurative sense of boastful gloating arose by association with the cock's proud crowing. The scientific name Corvus reflects the separate Latin lineage behind ornithological terms such as 'corvine' and 'corvid.'
Related word forms
How crow is actually used
As a noun, 'crow' is neutral in register and common in both British and American English. The verb senses are more figurative: 'to crow' about something often carries a negative connotation of excessive or ungracious boasting. The idiom 'eat crow' is chiefly American and means to be forced to admit an embarrassing mistake; British English prefers 'eat humble pie'.
Easily confused with crow
A raven is a larger member of the same family with a heavier bill and wedge-shaped tail, while a crow is smaller with a fan-shaped tail.
The verb 'to crow' describes the cock's dawn cry, but a crow as a noun is an entirely different bird that does not crow.