Perk Definition

pûrk
perked, perking, perks
verb
perked, perking, perks
To raise (the head, ears, etc.) briskly or spiritedly.
Webster's New World
To lift one's head, straighten one's posture, etc. jauntily.
Webster's New World
To stick up or jut out.
Dogs' ears that perk.
American Heritage
To percolate.
The coffee was perking on the stove.
American Heritage
To become lively or animated; esp., to recover one's spirits.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
adjective
Perky.
American Heritage
Webster's New World
Wiktionary
noun
perks
Webster's New World
A perquisite.
American Heritage

A percolator, particularly of coffee.

Wiktionary
Antonyms:

Other Word Forms of Perk

Noun

Singular:
perk
Plural:
perks

Origin of Perk

  • Possibly Middle English perken to perch from perk rod, perch probably from Medieval Latin perca and from Old French perche, perce both from Latin pertica rod perch1

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From percolate (verb) and percolator (noun), by abbreviation.

    From Wiktionary

  • Shortening and alteration of perquisite

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From perquisite, by abbreviation.

    From Wiktionary

  • The origin is uncertain.

    From Wiktionary

Perk Is Also Mentioned In

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