peck
peck¹
Definition
peck (pek)
transitive verb
- to strike with a pointed object, as with a beak
- to make by doing this to peck a hole
- to pick up with the beak; get by pecking
Etymology: ME pecken, var. of picken, pick, in specialized senses
intransitive verb
to make strokes as with a pointed object
noun
- a stroke so made, as with the beak
- a mark made as by pecking
- Informal a quick, casual kiss a peck on the forehead
peck at
- to make a pecking motion at
- Informal to eat very little of; eat carefully or sparingly
- Informal to criticize or find fault with constantly
peck²
Definition
peck (pek)
noun
- a unit of dry measure, equal to bushel or 8 dry quarts (8.8096 dry liters or 0.3111 cubic foot): abbrev. pk
- any container with a capacity of one peck
- Informal a large amount, as of trouble
Etymology: ME pek < OFr, prob. < ML bika, liquid measure, ult. < Gr bikos, wine jar: see beaker
peck
Synonyms
peck
n.
peck
Synonyms
peck
Usage Examples
Object
- order: At TA first place on the pecking order goes to the Book Shop Manager!
- bird: Inbetween, make ' paper tricks ' pecking bird & jumping frog.
- key: Next, Jack pecked a key labeled " Thank you, " thus rewarding Jill with mixed grain.
- behavior: It is just general Guinea Pig pecking order behavior.
- line: Solid lines are dependable, but pecked lines may just be a symbol not depicting a width.
- hen: He was a gentle man, but I seem to remember that he was hen pecked by his wife.
Preposition: on
- cheek: Alasdair's wife, Jane, gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
Subject
- bird: Protect foil topped milk bottles from being pecked by birds.
Adjective modifier
- quick: Alasdair's wife, Jane, gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
Converse of object
- steal: January 16 th 1833 Michael Garwood for stealing 5 pecks of beans from the barn of Daniel Alston at Stanstead.
- pick: Why not throw in " Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers " ?
- have: We felt all over her and it turned out that she had sore pecks!
Modifying Another Word
- away: It pecked away for ages to make this small hole.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- around: I can easily add bookmarks, audio streams, and quick access contacts to the home screen so there's minimal pecking around.
- out: They usually kill them by pecking out their eyes.
Preposition: at
- ground: The sprites are animated, so in this picture the bird flies overhead and the chicken pecks at the ground.
Preposition: of
- wheat: They were also to provide 500,000 pecks of wheat and 300,000 of barley, but the actual amount of the money indemnity is doubtful.
- pepper: Why not throw in " Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers " ?
Noun used with modifier
- bird: Drying her hands, she watches the bird peck at the cracks in the paving, seeking whatever it is that starlings seek.
Preposition: by
- bird: Protect foil topped milk bottles from being pecked by birds.
Browse dictionary entries near peck
- Pechora
- peccavi
- peccary
- peccant
- peccancy
- peccadillo
- peccable
- pecan
- pebbly
- pebble dash
- pecker
- peckerwood
- pecking order
- peckish
- Pecksniffian
- pecky
- pecorino
- pecorino (cheese)
- Pecos
- Pecos Bill
