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peck¹ Definition

peck (pek)

transitive verb

  1. to strike with a pointed object, as with a beak
  2. to make by doing this to peck a hole
  3. 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

  1. a stroke so made, as with the beak
  2. a mark made as by pecking
  3. Informal a quick, casual kiss a peck on the forehead

peck¹ Idioms

peck at

  1. to make a pecking motion at
  2. Informal to eat very little of; eat carefully or sparingly
  3. Informal to criticize or find fault with constantly
peck² Definition

peck (pek)

noun

  1. a unit of dry measure, equal to bushel or 8 dry quarts (8.8096 dry liters or 0.3111 cubic foot): abbrev. pk
  2. any container with a capacity of one peck
  3. 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.

  1. A slight, sharp blow

    pinch, tap, rap; see blow 1.

  2. The impression made by a peck, sense 1

    depression, blemish, mark; see hole 1, scar.

  3. One fourth of a bushel

    eight quarts, quarter-bushel, large amount; see measure 1, quantity.

peck Synonyms

peck

v.

nip, pick, hit, tap, rap; see also bite 1, pinch.

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

  1. Pechora
  2. peccavi
  3. peccary
  4. peccant
  5. peccancy
  6. peccadillo
  7. peccable
  8. pecan
  9. pebbly
  10. pebble dash
  1. pecker
  2. peckerwood
  3. pecking order
  4. peckish
  5. Pecksniffian
  6. pecky
  7. pecorino
  8. pecorino (cheese)
  9. Pecos
  10. Pecos Bill