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noun Uncommon

beck

BEHK
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Beck (noun) means a small stream or brook, especially in Northern England. Example: “The path followed the beck down through the valley.”

noun
1
A small stream or brook, especially in Northern England.
"Beck water cold and clear, will never clean your wound" — Archie Fisher, The Witch Of The West-Mer-Lands (1976)
"The path followed the beck down through the valley."
"The beck is crossed by a pretty ford and a number of bridges, and in spring the cottages look out over a dancing sea of daffodils." — AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd (1980)
"We paddled in the cold beck while the dog chased sticks along the bank."
"A little beck runs behind the farmhouse and floods in heavy rain."
2
A gesture, such as a nod or wave, used to summon or signal someone (mainly in the phrase "at someone's beck and call").
"The assistant was at her boss's beck and call all week."
"He did not want to be at anyone's beck and call during his holiday."
"With three small children, she felt permanently at their beck and call."

How to use beck

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a small stream (regional British word) or a nod/signal calling someone over — mostly known today through the fixed phrase "at someone's beck and call."

UK vs US

"Beck" for a stream is a regional British (especially Northern England) term; Americans would just say "stream" or "creek."

Common pairings
at someone's beck and call
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Word forms

Plural
becks
Third person singular
becks
Past tense
becked
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The path followed the _____ down through the valley.

Etymology

The stream sense comes from Old English bæc/bece, related to Old Norse bekkr, "a stream" — still common in place names across Northern England. The "beck and call" sense comes from a separate old word meaning a summoning gesture or nod, related to "beckon."

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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brook rill streamlet

Related words

support run stand river bear stream deserve stomach

Rhymes for beck

neck keck heck deck peck feck check speck wreck fleck Breck
See all rhymes for beck →

Frequently asked questions

What does “beck” mean?
The word “beck” means a small stream or brook, especially in Northern England. In plain terms, either a small stream (regional British word) or a nod/signal calling someone over — mostly known today through the fixed phrase "at someone's beck and call.".
How do you pronounce “beck”?
“Beck” is pronounced BEHK (/ˈbɛk/ in IPA).
How do you use “beck” in a sentence?
Here is “beck” used in a sentence: “The path followed the beck down through the valley.”
What part of speech is “beck”?
“Beck” is a noun.
Where does the word “beck” come from?
The word “beck” comes from Old English.
Is “beck” a common word?
“Beck” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “beck” have?
“Beck” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small stream or brook, especially in Northern England.
What is the difference between a "beck" and a "stream"?
A "beck" is a small stream or brook, and the word is a regional term used especially in Northern England, while "stream" is the general, standard term used throughout English. Outside northern England, "beck" is rare and mostly appears in place names, such as "Troutbeck."
Is "beck" commonly used outside the idiom "beck and call"?
The gesture sense of "beck" survives almost entirely within the fixed phrase "at someone's beck and call" and is rarely used alone in modern English. The stream sense remains in active regional use, particularly in Northern England and in place names.

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Words with old & middle English origins Words that end with K

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support run stand river bear stream deserve stomach