coop

A small enclosed shelter where chickens or other small animals are kept.

• The hens sleep in the coop.
• We built a new chicken coop behind the house.
• Have you cleaned the coops yet?

Similar words: pen, enclosure

Common phrases: chicken coop, wooden coop, clean the coop

To keep someone or something in a small space, often for too long.

• Do not coop the children up indoors.
• Bad weather cooped us up for three days.
• I hate being cooped up in a tiny office.

How to use it: coop someone up in something (The rain cooped us up in the house all day.)

Similar words: confine, shut in

Opposites: release, free

Common phrases: coop someone up, coop someone indoors, coop someone inside

To put birds or small animals in an enclosed shelter.

• We coop the chickens at night.
• She cooped the hens before the storm.
• The farmer coops his birds to protect them from foxes.

How to use it: coop something up (We coop the hens up before dark.)

Similar words: pen, enclose

Common phrases: coop the hens, coop the chickens, coop birds up