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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

cockroach

/ˈkɑkɹoʊt͡ʃ/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does cockroach mean?

noun

  1. Any black or brown straight-winged insect of the order Blattodea that is not a termite.
More meanings (4)

noun

  1. (derogatory, slang) Term of abuse.
  2. (derogatory, offensive, slang) A person or a member of a group of people regarded as undesirable and rapidly procreating.
  3. (derogatory, humorous, slang) A person from New South Wales.
  4. (obsolete, slang) A hard lump of brown sugar.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈkɑkɹoʊt͡ʃ/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Other dictionary pronunciations

/ˈkɑkəɹoʊt͡ʃ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

In Russia the small Asiatic cockroach has everywhere driven before it its great congener.
Charles DarwinOn the Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for LifeProject Gutenberg ebook #1228
"So would I," said Sara; "I suppose you might make friends with a rat in time, but I don't believe I should like to make friends with a cockroach."
Frances Hodgson BurnettA Little Princess Being the whole story of Sara Crewe now told for the first timeProject Gutenberg ebook #146
More book examples (2)
Archy, the imaginary cockroach whom Mr. Marquis uses as a vehicle for so much excellent fun, was a constant delight to Roger, and he had kept a scrapbook of all Archy's clippings.
Christopher MorleyThe Haunted BookshopProject Gutenberg ebook #172
“Mr. Dance,” said the squire, “you are a very noble fellow. And as for riding down that black, atrocious miscreant, I regard it as an act of virtue, sir, like stamping on a cockroach. This lad Hawkins is a trump, I perceive. Hawkins, will you ring that bell? Mr. Dance must have some ale.”
Robert Louis StevensonTreasure IslandProject Gutenberg ebook #120