Pronunciation: [kˈɔː] (IPA) 
The word "caw" is spelled as /kɔː/. It is a word used to describe the sound made by a crow, usually in a loud and repetitive manner. The "c" is pronounced as "k" while "a" is pronounced as "ɔː" which is a long vowel sound. This sound is produced by opening the mouth slightly and making a deep, resonant sound with the back of the throat. The spelling of this word accurately captures the sound it represents in a phonetic transcription.
Caw is an onomatopoeic word that predominantly refers to the loud, harsh sound produced by a crow or a raven. It is commonly used to describe their characteristic vocalization. The word can also be used as a noun, referring to the sound itself, or as a verb, depicting the action of producing this specific sound.
As a noun, caw is often associated with a distinct and piercing call emitted by a crow or a raven. It is characterized by a rough, guttural, and repetitive tone, usually heard in open or rural areas. This sound is recognized for its intense and powerful nature, carrying over long distances.
When used as a verb, caw signifies the vocalization produced by a crow or a raven. It relates to the act of emitting a series of harsh, guttural sounds, often in a prolonged manner. Cawing is commonly observed in situations where crows or ravens are communicating with each other, signaling the presence of danger, or exhibiting territorial behavior.
Beyond its specific avian connotation, caw can also be employed more broadly in literature or poetic contexts to depict any loud, harsh, or raucous sound similar to the characteristic call of crows and ravens. In such cases, its usage expands to encompass the description of other raucous noises made by different creatures or sometimes even objects, lending a vivid and evocative quality to the text.
To cry like a crow or rook.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "caw" is onomatopoeic in nature, meaning that it imitates the sound it represents. It is primarily associated with the sound made by crows, ravens, and other corvids. The etymology of "caw" is relatively straightforward, as it simply reflects the sound produced by these birds when they vocalize.
