Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - cock

~1 n 1 »CHICKEN« especially BrE an adult male chicken; rooster AmE  (- see also cock-a-doodle-doo) 2 »SEX ORGAN« taboo a penis 3 cock and bull story a story or excuse that is silly and unlikely but is told as if it were true  (She gave me some cock and bull story about the dog eating her homework.) 4 »CONTROL FLOW« something that controls the flow of liquid out of a pipe or container; tap1 (1)  (- see also ballcock, stopcock) 5 »MALE BIRD« an adult male bird of any kind  (a cock robin) 6 »MAN« BrE old-fashioned a word used by a man when talking to another man he knows well. 7 cock of the walk old-fashioned if you describe someone as behaving like the cock of the walk, they are behaving as if they were better or more important than other people  (- see also half cocked half2 (11)) ~2 v 1 to lift a part of your body so that it is upright, or hold a part of your body at an angle  (Paul cocked his head to one side as he considered my idea. | The little dog cocked a leg against the lamppost and urinated.) 2 to pull back the hammer1 (5) of a gun so that it is ready to be fired 3 to put your hat on at an angle; tilt1 (1) 4 keep an ear cocked informal to pay close attention because you want to be sure you hear something you expect or think may happen  (She kept an ear cocked for the sound of Joe's key in the front door.) 5 cock a snook BrE informal to show clearly that you do not respect someone or something + a  (The artist cocked a snook at the critics by exhibiting an empty frame.) cock sth up phr v BrE informal to spoil something such as an arrangement or plans, especially by making a stupid mistake  (His secretary really cocked up his travelling schedule and he's furious about it.)  (- see also cock-up)