verb
Uncommon
peck
pehk
Peck (verb) means For a bird to strike or pick at something repeatedly with its beak. Example: “The hens pecked at the scattered corn.”
verb
1
For a bird to strike or pick at something repeatedly with its beak.
"The hens pecked at the scattered corn."
2
Informal: to give someone a quick, light kiss.
"She pecked him on the cheek before running for the bus."
noun
1
A quick, light kiss.
"He gave her a peck goodbye and left for work."
2
A dry measure equal to a quarter of a bushel (about eight quarts).
"The recipe called for a peck of apples."
How to use peck
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bird's pecking motion, a quick light kiss, or an old unit of dry measure.
Common pairings
peck on the cheek
peck at food
a peck of trouble
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Word forms
- Plural
- pecks
- Third person singular
- pecks
- Past tense
- pecked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hens _____ at the scattered corn.
Etymology
From Middle English pecken, a variant of picken ("to pick" with a pointed tool) — related to "pick".
Related words
Rhymes for peck
See all rhymes for peck →Frequently asked questions
What does “peck” mean?
The word “peck” means for a bird to strike or pick at something repeatedly with its beak. In plain terms, a bird's pecking motion, a quick light kiss, or an old unit of dry measure.
How do you pronounce “peck”?
“Peck” is pronounced pehk (/pɛk/ in IPA).
How do you use “peck” in a sentence?
Here is “peck” used in a sentence: “The hens pecked at the scattered corn.”
What part of speech is “peck”?
Depending on how it is used, “peck” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “peck” come from?
The word “peck” comes from Middle English. From Middle English pecken, a variant of picken ("to pick" with a pointed tool) — related to "pick".
Is “peck” a common word?
“Peck” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “peck” have?
“Peck” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: for a bird to strike or pick at something repeatedly with its beak.
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