Definition of moo

Short definition: The word moo means the sound a cow makes, and people often use it in a fun playful way when talking about animals, farms, or making kids laugh with simple animal sounds.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word moo? The word moo is simple and fun, and almost everyone learns it at a young age. You usually hear it when talking about cows and farm animals, but people also use it in jokes, children’s songs, and playful conversations. Sometimes it even appears in slang to describe sounds people make for fun. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, so it feels clear, human, and easy to understand.

Forms: moo, moos, mooed, mooing
Related: cow n., sound n.
Syllable: moo

1. (Verb) To make the deep sound that a cow naturally makes.

   To moo means to make the long low sound that cows use to communicate with each other, often heard on farms when they are hungry, calling their calves, or reacting to people nearby.

   Early in the morning, the cows began to moo loudly in the field, waking everyone in the farmhouse before the sun even came up.
   The farmer smiled as he heard a cow moo softly while waiting to be fed.
   As we walked past the barn, one of the cows suddenly started to moo, making the kids laugh and copy the sound.

   Synonyms: bellow, low, make a cow sound, call out, animal cry, farm sound, cattle call, deep animal sound, barnyard noise, livestock call, cow call, farm cry
   Antonyms: stay silent, be quiet, hush, make no sound, remain quiet, mute response, no noise, quiet moment, silence, calm stillness, no call, quiet state

2. (Noun) The sound that a cow makes.

   A moo is the deep and gentle sound that comes from a cow, often used in children’s books and songs to represent farm life in a fun and friendly way.

   The children laughed when they heard a loud moo coming from the barn while they were visiting the farm for the first time.
   Every time the cow made a moo, the baby pointed and smiled with excitement.
   The sound of a moo in the distance made the countryside feel calm and peaceful.

   Synonyms: cow sound, cattle noise, animal call, farm sound, barnyard noise, livestock sound, deep call, animal cry, cow call, rural sound, farm noise, gentle bellow
   Antonyms: silence, quiet, stillness, no sound, calm moment, mute state, hush, peaceful quiet, no noise, silent air, quiet space, soundless state

3. (Slang) A playful sound people make as a joke or to act silly.

   In casual slang, people sometimes say moo just for fun, especially when joking around with friends or kids, to sound silly or pretend to be an animal.

   He suddenly said moo in the middle of the conversation just to make everyone laugh and lighten the mood.
   The kids ran around the house saying moo and pretending they were cows on a farm adventure.
   She typed moo in the chat as a joke when the conversation started to feel too serious.

   Synonyms: silly sound, playful noise, joke sound, fun shout, animal noise joke, playful call, funny sound, goof sound, joke noise, lighthearted sound, silly call, fun noise
   Antonyms: serious talk, formal speech, quiet response, calm answer, mature reply, no joke sound, serious tone, respectful silence, proper words, clear speech, straight talk, formal reply