2 VERB If two or more people co-author a book, play, or report, they write it together. □ [V n] He's co-authored a book on policy for tourism. □ [V n + with ] Karen Matthews co-authored the study with Lewis Kullers.
coax /koʊ ks/ (coaxes , coaxing , coaxed )
1 VERB If you coax someone into doing something, you gently try to persuade them to do it. □ [V n prep] Start trying to coax the rabbit out of its hutch. □ [V n to-inf] The government coaxed them to give up their strike. [Also V n]
2 VERB If you coax something such as information out of someone, you gently persuade them to give it to you. □ [V n + out of/from ] The police officer talked yesterday of her role in trying to coax vital information from the young victim.
cob /kɒ b/ (cobs )
1 N‑COUNT A cob is a round loaf of bread. [BRIT ]
2 N‑COUNT A cob is a type of short strong horse.
3 → see also corn on the cob
co|balt /koʊ bɔːlt/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Cobalt is a hard silvery-white metal which is used to harden steel and for producing a blue dye. □ …a country rich in copper, cobalt and diamonds.
2 COLOUR Cobalt or cobalt blue is a deep-blue colour. □ …a woman in a soft cobalt blue dress.
cob|ble /kɒ b ə l/ (cobbles , cobbling , cobbled ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Cobbles are the same as cobblestones . □ They found Trish sitting on the cobbles of the stable yard.
▸ cobble together PHRASAL VERB If you say that someone has cobbled something together , you mean that they have made or produced it roughly or quickly. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V P n] The group had cobbled together a few decent songs. □ [V n P ] You can cobble it together from any old combination of garments.
cob|bled /kɒ b ə ld/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A cobbled street has a surface made of cobblestones. □ Cottrell strode out across the cobbled courtyard.
cob|bler /kɒ blə r / (cobblers )
1 N‑COUNT A cobbler is a person whose job is to make or mend shoes. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
2 N‑UNCOUNT If you describe something that someone has just said as cobblers , you mean that you think it is nonsense. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ These guys talk an awful load of old cobblers.
cobble|stone /kɒ b ə lstoʊn/ (cobblestones ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Cobblestones are stones with a rounded upper surface which used to be used for making streets. □ …the narrow, cobblestone streets of the Left Bank.
co|bra /koʊ brə/ (cobras ) N‑COUNT A cobra is a kind of poisonous snake that can make the skin on the back of its neck into a hood.
cob|web /kɒ bweb/ (cobwebs )
1 N‑COUNT A cobweb is the net which a spider makes for catching insects.
2 PHRASE If something blows or clears away the cobwebs , it makes you feel more mentally alert and lively when you had previously been feeling tired. □ …a walk on the South Downs to blow away the cobwebs.
cob|webbed /kɒ bwebd/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] A cobwebbed surface is covered with cobwebs. □ …cobwebbed racks of wine bottles.
co|caine /koʊke I n/ N‑UNCOUNT Cocaine is a powerful drug which some people take for pleasure, but which they can become addicted to.
coc|cyx /kɒ ks I ks/ (coccyxes ) The plural coccyges is used in American English. N‑COUNT The coccyx is the small triangular bone at the lower end of the spine in human beings and some apes.
cochi|neal /kɒ tʃ I niː l/ N‑UNCOUNT Cochineal is a red substance that is used for colouring food.
coch|lea /kɒ kliə/ (cochleae /kɒ kliiː/) N‑COUNT The cochlea is the spiral-shaped part of the inner ear.
cock /kɒ k/ (cocks , cocking , cocked )
1 N‑COUNT A cock is an adult male chicken. [mainly BRIT ] □ The cock was announcing the start of a new day. in AM, use rooster 2 N‑COUNT [oft N n] You refer to a male bird, especially a male game bird, as a cock when you want to distinguish it from a female bird. [mainly BRIT ] □ …a cock pheasant.
3 N‑COUNT A man's cock is his penis. [INFORMAL , VERY RUDE ]
4 → see also stopcock
5 to cock a snook at someone → see snook
▸ cock up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you cock something up , you ruin it by doing something wrong. [BRIT , INFORMAL , RUDE ] □ [V n P ] 'Seems like I've cocked it up,' Egan said. □ [V P n] They've cocked up the address.
2 → see also cock-up
co ck-a-hoo p ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If you are cock-a-hoop , you are extremely pleased about something that you have done. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
co ck-and-bu ll sto|ry (cock-and-bull stories ) N‑COUNT If you describe something that someone tells you as a cock-and-bull story , you mean that you do not believe it is true. [INFORMAL ]
cocka|poo /kɒ kəpuː / (cockapoos ) N‑COUNT A cockapoo is a kind of dog that is a cross between the cocker spaniel breed and the poodle breed.
cocka|tiel /kɒ kətiː əl/ (cockatiels ) N‑COUNT A cockatiel is a bird similar to a cockatoo that is often kept as a pet.
cocka|too /kɒ kətuː , [AM ] -tuː/ (cockatoos ) N‑COUNT A cockatoo is a kind of parrot from Australia or New Guinea which has a bunch of feathers called a crest on its head.