I. ˈparət also ˈper-, usu -əd.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably irregular from Middle French perroquet, paroquet
1. : any of numerous zygodactyl birds (order Psittaciformes) widely distributed in tropical regions that have a distinctive stout curved cered hooked bill whose upper mandible is movably hinged to the skull, that are often crested and brightly variegated, and that are excellent mimics and often readily learn to simulate laughter and crying and to enunciate words and phrases ; especially : an Old World parrot of the genus Psittacus having a rather stout form with a short square tail — see african gray
2. : a person who repeats the words and sometimes the actions of others mechanically and without understanding
tends to become … the parrot of other men's thinking — R.W.Emerson
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
: to chatter like a parrot
the idiot clucked and parroted to herself — Robinson Jeffers
especially : repeat something mechanically in the manner of a trained parrot
it is not praying but parroting — John Trapp
transitive verb
1. : to repeat mechanically or by rote in the manner of a trained parrot : imitate the form of without understanding the sense or meaning involved
parrot obediently what the author expected them to say — John Woodburn
any school boy … can parrot the explanation — D.M.Friedenberg
a newspaper which parroted to perfection the imperfections of the home press — Bruce Marshall
2. : to teach to repeat in the mechanical manner of a parrot
actors parroted by the stage manager
III. adjective
1. : of, resembling, or of the nature of a parrot
parrot tongue
2. : of, characterized by, or resembling the mechanical imitation or repetition of the form of something (as a word) without meaning that characterizes a trained parrot
blatant ignorance and assertive parrot knowledge — A.L.Guérard