Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To utter the murmuring sound of a dove or pigeon or a sound resembling it.
  • intransitive verb To talk fondly or amorously in murmurs.
  • intransitive verb To express or utter with soft murmuring sounds.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The characteristic murmuring sound uttered by doves and pigeons.
  • To utter a low, plaintive, murmuring sound (imitated by the sound of the word) characteristic of pigeons or doves.
  • Hence To converse affectionately, like cooing doves; make love in murmuring endearments: commonly in the phrase to bill and coo. See bill, v. i.
  • To utter by cooing.
  • To call.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • intransitive verb To make a low repeated cry or sound, like the characteristic note of pigeons or doves.
  • intransitive verb To show affection; to act in a loving way. See under Bill, v. i.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • interjection Expression of fright, surprise, approval, etc.
  • adjective slang cool
  • noun The murmuring sound made by a dove or pigeon.
  • verb transitive or intransitive To make a soft murmuring sound, as a pigeon.
  • verb intransitive To speak in an admiring fashion, to be enthusiastic about.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the sound made by a pigeon
  • verb cry softly, as of pigeons
  • verb speak softly or lovingly

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Imitative.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Shortening of cool. Compare foo.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Of onomatopoetic/imitative origin.

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Examples

Comments

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  • Cow (Scots).

    November 27, 2007

  • Jane Smiley on pigeons.

    February 1, 2008

  • JM overheard some doves plotting a coo.

    July 27, 2011