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duck

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The definition of a duck is a swimming bird with a flat bill, short legs and webbed feet.

(noun)

An example of a duck are the Disney characters Donald and Daffy.

To duck is defined as to lower the head or body quickly as if to avoid a blow.

(verb)

An example of to duck is a boxer dodging their opponent's punch.

See duck in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

pl. ducks or duck any of a large number of relatively small waterfowl with a flat bill, short neck and legs, and webbed feet
a female duck
the flesh of a duck as food
Chiefly Brit., Informal a darling; dear
☆ Slang a person, esp. one qualified as being “odd,” “harmless,” “funny,” etc.

Origin: ME doke < OE duce, lit., diver, ducker < base of *ducan, to plunge, dive (see duck); replaces OE ened (akin to Ger ente), common Gmc word for the bird

transitive verb, intransitive verb

to plunge or dip under water for a moment
to lower, turn, or bend (the head, body, etc.) suddenly, as in avoiding a blow or in hiding
☆ Informal to avoid or evade: the candidate ducked the issue
Slang to move (in or out) quickly

Origin: ME douken < OE *ducan, to plunge, dive, akin to OHG tūhan (Ger tauchen), MLowG dūken, Du duiken, to dive

noun

the act of ducking

Related Forms:

ducker noun

noun

a cotton or linen cloth somewhat like canvas but finer and lighter in weight
clothes, esp. white trousers, made of this cloth

Origin: Du doek, akin to Ger tuch, cloth

noun

☆ Mil. Slang an amphibious motor vehicle used during WWII

Origin: altered (infl. by duck) < DUKW, military code name

See duck in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various wild or domesticated swimming birds of the family Anatidae, characteristically having a broad, flat bill, short legs, and webbed feet.
A female duck.
The flesh of a duck used as food.
Slang A person, especially one thought of as peculiar.
Chiefly British A dear. Often used in the plural with a singular verb.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English doke

Origin: , from Old English dūce

Origin: , possibly from *dūcan, to dive; see duck ²

verb ducked, duck·ing, ducks ducks

verb, transitive

To lower quickly, especially so as to avoid something: ducked his head as the ball came toward him.
To evade; dodge: duck responsibility; ducked the reporter's question.
To push suddenly under water. See Synonyms at dip.
Games To deliberately play a card that is lower than (an opponent's card).

verb, intransitive

To lower the head or body.
To move swiftly, especially so as to escape being seen: ducked behind a bush.
To submerge the head or body briefly in water.
To evade a responsibility or obligation. Often used with out: duck out on one's family.
Games To lose a trick by deliberately playing lower than one's opponent.

noun