parrot

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal

n. someone who repeats what other people say without really understanding it.

n. a person who repeats the words or ideas of others mechanically and without original thought.

“Don't be a parrot; tell me what you actually think about the plan.”

“The critic dismissed the young politician as a mere parrot of the party's senior leadership, lacking any distinct policy vision.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Computing Technical · Slang

n. a piece of equipment in a plane that sends out a signal to identify itself.

n. a transponder used in aircraft to receive and transmit radio signals for identification.

“The pilot checked the parrot to ensure the radar could see them.”

“Air traffic control requested the pilot to cycle the parrot after the identification signal became intermittent on the display.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to repeat exactly what someone else said without thinking about the meaning.

v. to repeat words or ideas mechanically or without full comprehension of the content. Transitive, taking a direct object.

“The students just parroted the teacher's words instead of using their own.”

“It is common for young children to parrot the phrases they hear their parents use, often in entirely inappropriate contexts.”