duck
1any of numerous wild or domesticated web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genus Anas and allied genera, characterized by abroad, flat bill, short legs, and depressed body.
the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male.: Compare drake1.
the flesh of this bird, eaten as food.
Informal. person; individual: He's the queer old duck with the shaved head and walrus mustache.
a playing marble, especially one that is not used as a shooter.
ducks, (used with a singular verb)British Slang. ducky2.
Cricket Slang.
failure of a batsman to score: to be out for a duck.
a player's score of zero: to be bowled for a duck.: Compare goose egg (def. 1).
Idioms about duck
water off a duck's back, something that has little or no effect: Our criticisms of his talk rolled off him like water off a duck's back.
Origin of duck
1Other definitions for duck (2 of 4)
to plunge the whole body or the head momentarily under water.
Cards Informal. to play a card lower than the card led.
to lower suddenly: Duck your head going through that low doorway.
to avoid or evade (a blow, unpleasant task, etc.); dodge: to duck a hard right;to duck an embarrassing question.
to plunge or dip in water momentarily.
Cards Informal. to play a card lower than (the card led).
an act or instance of ducking.
Origin of duck
2Other words for duck
Other definitions for duck (3 of 4)
a heavy, plain-weave cotton fabric for tents, clothing, bags, etc., in any of various weights and widths.
ducks, (used with a plural verb) slacks or trousers made of this material.
Origin of duck
3Other definitions for duck (4 of 4)
DUKW.
Origin of duck
4Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use duck in a sentence
Return the duck to the baking sheet, breast side up, and generously brush the duck with the glaze.
Orange-sriracha glazed duck and roasted fruit are a stunning sheet-pan dinner combination | Olga Massov | November 10, 2020 | Washington PostBlistered shishito peppers and daikon, cooked like the leg in duck fat, ramp up the pleasure.
Shibuya Eatery lives up to its name, bringing Tokyo street food to Adams Morgan | Tom Sietsema | October 30, 2020 | Washington PostOfferings included tea-smoked duck, prawns a la Sichuan, hot-and-sour soup, soup dumplings and other specialties from China’s provinces.
Cecilia Chiang, grand dame of Chinese cooking in America, dies at 100 | Tim Carman | October 28, 2020 | Washington PostThey are sitting ducks for the next big earthquake, which is likely to hit within the next century.
Finding homes for the waste that will (probably) outlive humanity | Katie McLean | October 21, 2020 | MIT Technology ReviewOccasionally I’d duck into the privacy room to lie down on a yoga mat, but I was always conscious of the risk that someone else might need it more—a new mom who needed to pump, a manager about to have a sensitive conversation.
Why you shouldn’t feel guilty for napping while working at home | Sarah Todd | September 20, 2020 | Quartz
We huddled under the covers and drank and ate and then ducked out in the dark to brush our teeth.
When he reached me at that gathering, he ducked a question about his role by declaring: “What is important is historical truth.”
As she ducked out of the Sheraton fundraiser, she met a group of women coming at her on the up escalator.
As mountaineers ducked out of them and trekked toward Everest, she dreamed of following.
Breaking Mount Everest’s Glass Ceiling | Amanda Padoan, Peter Zuckerman | March 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe two young brothers, aged six and seven, described how they ducked down in the back seat when the bullets started to fly.
A boy with a carton of groceries almost ran down Louis, then ducked down into the delivery entrance of the apartment-hotel.
I ducked around the first corner, ran half a block, then slipped down the alley.
Tom poked about amongst the passages, and pretty soon ducked under a wall where you wouldn't a noticed that there was a hole.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete | Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)Winfree ducked, found one of the dress sabers ignominiously sheathed in snow, and drew it out.
The Great Potlatch Riots | Allen Kim LangThese, too, were shut and locked, and when I ducked under the nearest gondola I realized that I was trapped.
The Wreckers | Francis Lynde
British Dictionary definitions for duck (1 of 4)
/ (dʌk) /
any of various small aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, typically having short legs, webbed feet, and a broad blunt bill: order Anseriformes
the flesh of this bird, used as food
the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (drake)
any other bird of the family Anatidae, including geese, and swans
Also: ducks British informal dear or darling: used as a term of endearment or of general address: See also ducky
informal a person, esp one regarded as odd or endearing
cricket a score of nothing by a batsman
like water off a duck's back informal without effect
take to something like a duck to water informal to become adept at or attracted to something very quickly
Origin of duck
1British Dictionary definitions for duck (2 of 4)
/ (dʌk) /
to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp so as to escape observation or evade a blow
to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water
(when intr, often foll by out) informal to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc)
(intr) bridge to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick
the act or an instance of ducking
Origin of duck
2Derived forms of duck
- ducker, noun
British Dictionary definitions for duck (3 of 4)
/ (dʌk) /
a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etc: See also ducks
Origin of duck
3British Dictionary definitions for duck (4 of 4)
/ (dʌk) /
an amphibious vehicle used in World War II
Origin of duck
4Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with duck
In addition to the idioms beginning with duck
- duck out
- duck soup
also see:
- dead duck
- get one's ducks in a row
- lame duck
- like water off a duck's back
- sitting duck
- take to (like a duck to water)
- ugly duckling
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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