beak

[beek]

noun

1. the bill of a bird; neb.

2. any similar horny mouthpart in other animals, as the turtle or duckbill.

3. anything beaklike or ending in a point, as the spout of a pitcher.

4. Slang.,  a person's nose.

5. Entomology.,  proboscis.

6. Botany.,  a narrowed or prolonged tip.

7. Nautical.,  (formerly) a metal or metal-sheathed projection from the bow of a warship, used to ram enemy vessels; ram; rostrum.

8. Typography.,  a serif on the arm of a character, as of a K.

9. Also called bird's beak. Architecture.,  a pendant molding forming a drip, as on the soffit of a cornice.

10. Chiefly British Slang.

    1. a judge; magistrate.

    2. a schoolmaster.

beak

¹

/ biːkt, biːk /

noun

1. the projecting jaws of a bird, covered with a horny sheath; bill

2. any beaklike mouthpart in other animals, such as turtles

3. slang,  a person's nose, esp one that is large, pointed, or hooked

4. any projecting part, such as the pouring lip of a bucket

5. architect the upper surface of a cornice, which slopes out to throw off water

6. chem the part of a still or retort through which vapour passes to the condenser

7. nautical another word for ram

beak

²

/ biːk /

noun

1. a Brit slang word for judge magistrate headmaster schoolmaster

Other Word Forms

• beaked adjective
• beakless adjective
• beaklike adjective
• beaky adjective
• underbeak noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of beak¹

1175–1225; Middle English bec < Old French < Latin beccus < Gaulish

Word History and Origins

Origin of beak¹

C13: from Old French bec , from Latin beccus , of Gaulish origin

Origin of beak²

C19: originally thieves' jargon

Example Sentences

“Suddenly with a plop, the egg landed on the straw. With clucks of pleasure the hen shook her feathers, nudged the egg with her beak, and left,” Goodall wrote almost 60 years later.

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But before you put on your 17th century “air-purifying” beaked mask, let’s find out from the experts why this disease is still around and how dangerous it is now.

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Terror birds were top predators - they could be taller than a human and had powerful legs and hooked, flesh-ripping beaks.

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Bedecked with emerald green feathers and a rose-red beak, the ring-neck parakeets have become the star attraction at the Waterworks Park.

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A council spokesperson said the attraction is "projected to beak even" within five years of of a planned major revamp, which will mark "an important milestone in its long-term sustainability".

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Related Words

• snout