duck

1
[ duhk ]
See synonyms for: duckduckedducking on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural ducks, (especially collectively for 1, 2) duck.
  1. any 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.

  2. the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male.: Compare drake1.

  1. the flesh of this bird, eaten as food.

  2. Informal. person; individual: He's the queer old duck with the shaved head and walrus mustache.

  3. a playing marble, especially one that is not used as a shooter.

  4. ducks, (used with a singular verb)British Slang. ducky2.

  5. 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

  1. 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

1
First recorded before 1000; Middle English duk, doke, Old English dūce “diver, duck”; akin to duck2

Other definitions for duck (2 of 4)

duck2
[ duhk ]

verb (used without object)
  1. to stoop or bend suddenly; bob.

  2. to avoid or evade a blow, unpleasant task, etc.; dodge.

  1. to plunge the whole body or the head momentarily under water.

  2. Cards Informal. to play a card lower than the card led.

verb (used with object)
  1. to lower suddenly: Duck your head going through that low doorway.

  2. to avoid or evade (a blow, unpleasant task, etc.); dodge: to duck a hard right;to duck an embarrassing question.

  1. to plunge or dip in water momentarily.

  2. Cards Informal. to play a card lower than (the card led).

noun
  1. an act or instance of ducking.

Origin of duck

2
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English duken, douken; cognate with German tauchen “to dive,” ducken “to duck”

Other words for duck

Other definitions for duck (3 of 4)

duck3
[ duhk ]

noun
  1. a heavy, plain-weave cotton fabric for tents, clothing, bags, etc., in any of various weights and widths.

  2. ducks, (used with a plural verb) slacks or trousers made of this material.

Origin of duck

3
First recorded in 1630–40; from Dutch doek “cloth”; cognate with German Tuch

Other definitions for duck (4 of 4)

duck4
[ duhk ]

noun

Origin of duck

4
An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; by alteration

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use duck in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for duck (1 of 4)

duck1

/ (dʌk) /


nounplural ducks or duck
  1. any of various small aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, typically having short legs, webbed feet, and a broad blunt bill: order Anseriformes

  2. the flesh of this bird, used as food

  1. the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (drake)

  2. any other bird of the family Anatidae, including geese, and swans

  3. Also: ducks British informal dear or darling: used as a term of endearment or of general address: See also ducky

  4. informal a person, esp one regarded as odd or endearing

  5. cricket a score of nothing by a batsman

  6. like water off a duck's back informal without effect

  7. take to something like a duck to water informal to become adept at or attracted to something very quickly

Origin of duck

1
Old English dūce duck, diver; related to duck ²

British Dictionary definitions for duck (2 of 4)

duck2

/ (dʌk) /


verb
  1. to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp so as to escape observation or evade a blow

  2. to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water

  1. (when intr, often foll by out) informal to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc)

  2. (intr) bridge to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick

noun
  1. the act or an instance of ducking

Origin of duck

2
C14: related to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Middle Dutch dūken

Derived forms of duck

  • ducker, noun

British Dictionary definitions for duck (3 of 4)

duck3

/ (dʌk) /


noun
  1. a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etc: See also ducks

Origin of duck

3
C17: from Middle Dutch doek; related to Old High German tuoh cloth

British Dictionary definitions for duck (4 of 4)

duck4

/ (dʌk) /


noun
  1. an amphibious vehicle used in World War II

Origin of duck

4
C20: from code name DUKW

Collins 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

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.