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Peacock

Birds
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A resplendent bird with iridescent tail feathers, symbolizing vanity, beauty, and immortality.

Detailed Definition
The peacock’s extravagant display has made it a symbol of pride, resurrection (in Christian iconography), and divine glory in poetry. Its “eyes” suggest omniscience, while its strutting evokes human folly. Poets use the peacock to explore the tension between surface beauty and inner truth, or to celebrate the sacred in flamboyance—often as a counterpoint to modesty or humility.
Example
Example in poetry:
In W.B. Yeats’s “The Peacock,” the bird’s tail “full of eyes” symbolizes divine omniscience and vanity; Christian poetry uses the peacock to represent resurrection, as its flesh was thought not to decay; Poets contrast the peacock’s strutting with humble birds to explore pride and beauty; In Indian verse, the peacock is linked to monsoon and divine dance; Its iridescence becomes a metaphor for shifting perspectives and surface illusion.
Additional Notes
The peacock—resplendent with iridescent “eyes” on its train—symbolizes vanity, divine glory, and resurrection (in Christian iconography). Its strutting display evokes human pride; its hidden strength offers duality. W.B. Yeats used it to explore omniscience and beauty. Related concepts: “sacred flamboyance,” “ocular symbolism,” “courtly bird.” Ideal for examining the tension between surface spectacle and inner truth.
Also Known As
Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus Peahen (female) Peafowl coxcomb
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