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Boo vs Coo - What's the difference?

boo | coo |

In intransitive terms the difference between boo and coo

is that boo is to shout extended boos derisively while coo is to speak in an admiring fashion, to be enthusiastic about.

As an adjective coo is

cool.

As an initialism COO is

chief operating officer.

boo

English

Etymology 1

Coined to create a loud and startling sound. Compare Latin .

Interjection

(en interjection)
  • A loud exclamation intended to scare someone, especially a child. Usually used when one has been hidden from the victim and then suddenly appeared unexpectedly.
  • A word used ironically in a situation where one might have scared someone, but said someone was not scared. Not said as loudly as in definition 1.
  • An exclamation used by a member or many members of an audience, as at a stage play or sports game, to indicate derision or disapproval of what has just occurred.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A derisive shout made to indicate disapproval.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2010 , date=December 29 , author=Sam Sheringham , title=Liverpool 0 - 1 Wolverhampton , work=BBC citation , page= , passage=...Hodgson headed down the tunnel with the boos of fans ringing in his ears after an eighth league defeat of the season...}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To shout extended boos derisively.
  • When he took the podium, the crowd booed .
  • * 2004 , The New Yorker, 18 Oct 2004
  • Nobody booed and nobody clapped
  • To derisively shout extended boos at.
  • The protesters loudly booed the visiting senator.

    Etymology 2

    From beau.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (US, AAVE, slang) A close acquaintance or significant other.
  • Anagrams

    * * ----

    coo

    English

    Etymology 1

    Of onomatopoetic/imitative origin.

    Noun

    (-)
  • The murmuring sound made by a dove or pigeon.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (transitive, or, intransitive) To make a soft murmuring sound, as a pigeon.
  • * 26 June 2014 , A.A Dowd, AV Club Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler spoof rom-com clichés in They Came Together [http://www.avclub.com/review/paul-rudd-and-amy-poehler-spoof-rom-com-cliches-th-206220]
  • As Norah Jones coos sweet nothings on the soundtrack, the happy couple—played by Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler—canoodle through a Manhattan montage, making pasta for two, swimming through a pile of autumn leaves, and horsing around at a fruit stand.
  • To speak in an admiring fashion, to be enthusiastic about.
  • * 2013 , Nicola Cornick, One Night with the Laird (page 206)
  • They were too busy cooing over the baby and his parents were too busy cooing over each other.
    Derived terms
    * cooer * cooingly

    Etymology 2

    Shortening of cool. Compare foo.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (slang) cool
  • Etymology 3

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • Expression of fright, surprise, approval, etc.
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1960 , author= , title=(Jeeves in the Offing) , section=chapter VII , passage=I stood outside the door for a space, letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would”, as Jeeves tells me cats do in adages, then turned the handle softly, pushed – also softly – and, carrying on into the interior, found myself confronted by a girl in housemaid's costume who put a hand to her throat like somebody in a play and leaped several inches in the direction of the ceiling. “Coo'!” she said, having returned to terra firma and taken aboard a spot of breath. “You gave me a start, sir!” [...] “If you cast an eye on him, you will see that he's asleep now.” “' Coo ! So he is.”}}
  • * 1988 , Sean Kelly, Professional BMX Simulator'' (video game review in ''Your Sinclair , issue 35, November 1988)
  • The last track on each of the three sections is a professional course, where you can customise your bike by changing the tyres and the size of chainwheel. Coo !
  • * 1989 , Competitions'' (in ''Sinclair User , issue 92, November 1989)
  • We want you to come up with a side splitting caption for a picture drawn by the fair hand of those at System 3. If you turn out to be the Funniest "Person", we'll give you a big wopping model of a dinosaur. Coo .
  • * 1990 , Crash readers' awards ceremony'' (in ''Crash , issue 75, April 1990)
  • Mark: 'Coo', I've only had four gallons of extra caffeine coffee today so I'm not my usual talking-to-PR-girlies-for-hours-on-end self. But bear with me a mo while I get myself together (audience waits for an age while he searches through his coat for the golden envelope). Here it is! ' Coo , and the winner is The New Zealand Story.'