duck
duhk
Duck (noun) means a web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted. Example: “A mother duck led her ducklings across the road and the traffic stopped.”
noun
1
A web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted.
"A mother duck led her ducklings across the road and the traffic stopped."
"We could hear a duck quacking somewhere beside the river."
"They fed bread to the ducks at the park pond."
2
(British, informal) A term of endearment for a friend or stranger.
"Come in and sit down, duck, and I will put the kettle on."
"Mind the step, duck, it is a bit slippery after the rain."
""Are you alright, duck?" the shopkeeper asked."
verb
1
To lower the head or body quickly to avoid being hit.
"The cyclist had to duck under a branch hanging over the path."
"He had to duck to avoid the low doorway."
"She ducked behind the sofa when the ball came flying at her."
2
To avoid or evade a task, question, or responsibility.
"She tried to duck out of the washing-up by pretending to be on the phone."
"Politicians sometimes duck difficult interviews by claiming they are too busy."
"The minister ducked the question about the budget cuts."
How to use duck
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe water bird, the action of quickly dropping down to avoid something, or (informally) dodging a difficult task.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
duck out of
duck a question
sitting duck
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Word forms
- Plural
- ducks
- Third person singular
- ducks
- Past tense
- ducked
Fill the gap
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A mother _____ led her ducklings across the road and the traffic stopped.
Etymology
From Old English dūcan ("to dip, dive, duck"), related to German and Dutch words meaning "to dive" or "to bend down".
Related words
Rhymes for duck
See all rhymes for duck →Frequently asked questions
What does “duck” mean?
The word “duck” means a web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted. In plain terms, the water bird, the action of quickly dropping down to avoid something, or (informally) dodging a difficult task.
How do you pronounce “duck”?
“Duck” is pronounced duhk (/dʌk/ in IPA).
How do you use “duck” in a sentence?
Here is “duck” used in a sentence: “They fed bread to the ducks at the park pond.”
What is another word for “duck”?
Words with a similar meaning to “duck” include duck down and friend.
What part of speech is “duck”?
Depending on how it is used, “duck” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “duck” come from?
The word “duck” comes from Old English. From Old English dūcan ("to dip, dive, duck"), related to German and Dutch words meaning "to dive" or "to bend down".
Is “duck” a common word?
“Duck” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “duck” have?
“Duck” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted.
What is the difference between a duck and a goose?
A duck is a smaller web-footed water bird with a relatively short neck, while a goose is larger with a longer neck. Both are waterfowl, but "duck" refers to the smaller species often kept domestically or hunted.
What is the difference between the noun "duck" and the verb "duck"?
The noun duck names a web-footed water bird. The verb duck means to lower the head or body quickly, usually to avoid being hit or seen.
What is a male duck and a female duck called?
A male duck is called a drake and a female duck is called a hen. The young are ducklings, while "duck" serves as the general term for the bird.
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