parrotlike
|par-rot-like|
/ˈpærətlaɪk/
resembling a parrot (appearance or imitation)
Etymology
'parrotlike' originates from English, formed by combining the noun 'parrot' and the suffix '-like', where 'parrot' referred to the bird and '-like' meant 'having the form of' or 'resembling'.
'parrot' in English came via Middle French/Old French forms such as 'perot'/'perrot' and was established in Middle English; the suffix '-like' comes from Old English 'līc' meaning 'body, form'. The adjective 'parrotlike' developed in Modern English by combining these elements.
Initially it meant 'resembling a parrot' (in appearance). Over time it also acquired a figurative meaning 'imitative; repeating without understanding', used to describe behavior or speech.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
resembling a parrot in appearance (e.g., bright feathers) or in general physical characteristics.
The bird had parrotlike colors that stood out in the aviary.
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Adjective 2
imitative; repeating words or actions in a mechanical or unthinking way, like a parrot that mimics speech without understanding.
His parrotlike repetition of the slogans showed he hadn't thought about their meaning.
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Last updated: 2025/09/27 05:30