Peck

/pɛk/ · verb

Meaning

(ambitransitive) To strike or pierce with the beak or bill (of a bird)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (ambitransitive) To strike or pierce with the beak or bill (of a bird).
2. (transitive) To form by striking with the beak or a pointed instrument.
3. To strike, pick, thrust against, or dig into, with a pointed instrument, especially with repeated quick movements.
4. To seize and pick up with the beak, or as if with the beak; to bite; to eat; often with up.
5. To do something in small, intermittent pieces.
6. To type by searching for each key individually.
7. (rare) To type in general.
8. To kiss briefly.

Example Sentences

The birds pecked at their food.

The rooster had been known to fly on her shoulder and peck her neck, so that now she carried a stick or took one of the children with her when she went to feed the fowls.

And the Wicked Witch said to the King Crow, "Fly at once to the strangers; peck out their eyes and tear them to pieces."

to peck a hole in a tree

This fellow pecks up wit as pigeons peas.

Occasionally a little band of exploring children with the fictitious optimism of youth pecked among its rank and tangled growth in the affectation of hoping to find blackberries there; […]

He has been pecking away at that project for some time now.

At half past eight, Mr. Dursley picked up his briefcase, pecked Mrs. Dursley on the cheek, and tried to kiss Dudley good-bye but missed, because Dudley was now having a tantrum and throwing his cereal at the walls.

Synonyms for peck

Antonyms for peck

Related Words

Word Forms

• pecks
• pecking
• pecked

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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