parrot
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a tropical bird with bright feathers and a curved beak that can learn to copy human sounds.
n.a bird of the order Psittaciformes, typically characterized by colourful plumage, a hooked bill, and the ability to mimic speech.
Simple“The parrot in the pet shop could say 'hello' to every customer.”
In context“In the rainforest canopy, the bright green parrot blended perfectly with the foliage, making it difficult for predators to spot.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“Don't be a parrot; tell me what you actually think about the plan.”
In context“The critic dismissed the young politician as a mere parrot of the party's senior leadership, lacking any distinct policy vision.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The pilot checked the parrot to ensure the radar could see them.”
In context“Air traffic control requested the pilot to cycle the parrot after the identification signal became intermittent on the display.”
Synonyms - 04 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.
Simple“The students just parroted the teacher's words instead of using their own.”
In context“It is common for young children to parrot the phrases they hear their parents use, often in entirely inappropriate contexts.”
First attested in 1525. From Middle French perrot, either a diminutive of Pierre or a shortened form of perroquet (whence also parakeet). Compare French pierrot and Occitan parrat. A number of origins have been suggested for perroquet, such as Spanish periquito and Italian parrocchetto. The relationship between these various words is disputed. Replaced earlier popinjay.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.