parrot
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary EnglishBirdsparrotpar‧rot1 /ˈpærət/ ●●○ noun [countable]1
HBBa tropical bird with a curved beak and brightly coloured feathers that can be taught to copy human speech2 → parrot fashion → sick as a parrotExamples from the Corpusparrot• The sands were crowded with these strange bright parrots, accompanied by young gentlemen with unorthodox headgear and unbuttoned waistcoats.• They run off laughing like parrots as my companion shouts after them in disgust.• The thieves knew exactly what they were after - breeding pairs of parrots and parakeets - six thousand pounds worth.• Her island was peopled with plumed parrots, preening dodos, psychedelic land crabs.• Of the ten parrot species, eight are special to Sulawesi.• No, no: the parrot, the parrot in gloves.• In common with toucans, parrots and woodpeckers, cuckoos have two toes pointing forwards and two pointing back.parrotparrot2 verb [transitive]REPEATto repeat someone else’s words or ideas without really understanding what you are saying – used to show disapprovalHe just parroted his father’s opinions.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusparrot• Most are parroting a deeply entrenched view which they have not critically or creatively examined.• After the reports some political worthies spew out the same old phrases they parroted last time the natives grew restless somewhere.• That does not mean that they parroted slogans without appreciating their significance.• Despite this, it has the gall to parrot the vocabulary of Tory ideology.• The message would be couched in Inquisition language; the Astropath would parrot the words out telepathically.• He defended himself vigorously, and took Theo to task for parroting their father's words.• When Alexander hung up, I would call three or four investors and simply parrot what Alexander had just said.Origin parrot1 (1500-1600) Probably from Old French perroquet
HBBa tropical bird with a curved beak and brightly coloured feathers that can be taught to copy human speech2 → parrot fashion → sick as a parrotExamples from the Corpusparrot• The sands were crowded with these strange bright parrots, accompanied by young gentlemen with unorthodox headgear and unbuttoned waistcoats.• They run off laughing like parrots as my companion shouts after them in disgust.• The thieves knew exactly what they were after - breeding pairs of parrots and parakeets - six thousand pounds worth.• Her island was peopled with plumed parrots, preening dodos, psychedelic land crabs.• Of the ten parrot species, eight are special to Sulawesi.• No, no: the parrot, the parrot in gloves.• In common with toucans, parrots and woodpeckers, cuckoos have two toes pointing forwards and two pointing back.parrotparrot2 verb [transitive]REPEATto repeat someone else’s words or ideas without really understanding what you are saying – used to show disapprovalHe just parroted his father’s opinions.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusparrot• Most are parroting a deeply entrenched view which they have not critically or creatively examined.• After the reports some political worthies spew out the same old phrases they parroted last time the natives grew restless somewhere.• That does not mean that they parroted slogans without appreciating their significance.• Despite this, it has the gall to parrot the vocabulary of Tory ideology.• The message would be couched in Inquisition language; the Astropath would parrot the words out telepathically.• He defended himself vigorously, and took Theo to task for parroting their father's words.• When Alexander hung up, I would call three or four investors and simply parrot what Alexander had just said.Origin parrot1 (1500-1600) Probably from Old French perroquet