[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/courtship/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [C](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/c/) / courtship

# courtship

noun (courtship, courtships; also uncountable)

«courtship» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (science) Special behaviour that animals use to attract a mate, such as dancing, singing, showing off bright feathers or bringing gifts: «the courtship dance of the peacock». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#m1)
2. (old-fashioned) The time when two people are getting to know each other romantically before getting married. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#m2)
3. (formal) Trying hard to win someone's support or favour: «the company's courtship of new customers». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#m3)

### In the lessons

In science lessons on animal behaviour and life cycles, courtship comes before mating: male peacocks spread their tails, bowerbirds decorate nests, birds sing, and penguins give pebbles. In older novels and history, couples have a «courtship» with walks and visits before marriage. Phrases: «courtship display», «courtship dance», «courtship ritual».

### Examples

- The peacock spreads its tail in a courtship display. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x1)
- Male birds sing in spring as part of courtship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x2)
- Some penguins give a pebble as a courtship gift. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x3)
- In the old novel, their courtship lasted three years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x4)
- Bowerbirds decorate their bowers with blue things during courtship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x5)
- Great crested grebes do a famous courtship dance on the water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x6)
- Scientists filmed the frogs' courtship calls at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x7)
- This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/#x8)

### Note

Uncountable in general (animal courtship), countable for one relationship (a long courtship). The old-fashioned verb «court» means to try to win someone's love («He courted her for a year»). Not connected to the meaning «law court».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «courtship» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/courtship/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«courtship» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/courtship.html) on Mova free.