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• beck
  beck

  noun

  a gesture used to signal, summon, or direct someone.
• Beck
  Beck

  noun

  Dave, 1894–1993, U.S. labor leader: president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 1952–57.

beck

¹ American  

[bek] / bɛk /

noun

1. a gesture used to signal, summon, or direct someone.

2. Chiefly Scot. a bow or curtsy of greeting.

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verb (used with or without object)

1. Archaic. beckon.

idioms

1. at someone's beck and call, ready to do someone's bidding; subject to someone's slightest wish.

   He has three servants at his beck and call.

beck ² American  

[bek] / bɛk /

noun

North England.

1. a brook, especially a swiftly running stream with steep banks.

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beck ³ American  

[bek] / bɛk /

verb (used with object)

Metalworking.

1. to form (a billet or the like) into a tire or hoop by rolling or hammering on a mandrel or anvil.

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Beck ⁴ American  

[bek] / bɛk /

noun

1. Dave, 1894–1993, U.S. labor leader: president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 1952–57.

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beck ¹ British  

/ bɛk /

noun

1. a nod, wave, or other gesture or signal

2. ready to obey someone's orders instantly; subject to someone's slightest whim

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beck ² British  

/ bɛk /

noun

1. (in N England) a stream, esp a swiftly flowing one

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beck More Idioms  

1. see at someone's beck and call.

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Etymology

Origin of beck¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb bekken, bec, variant of beckenen, bek(e)nen beckon; noun derivative of the verb

Origin of beck²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bek, bec(k), from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse bekkr; akin to Old English bæc, bec, bece, Dutch beek, German Bach “brook”

Origin of beck³

First recorded in 1830–35 as beck-iron; verb use of the noun beck, shortening of beck-iron, a variant of bick-iron

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beck Beck

At the president’s beck and call is the United States Marine Band, created by an act of Congress in 1798.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

And as you imply, the new chairman of the Fed will have hundreds of Ph.D.s at his beck and call for whatever studies he may desire.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 8, 2026

If they want nutrition advice, wellness coaching, or help with complex medical issues, she’s at their beck and call.

From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025

The agency is using three pumps to help move water away from the beck.

From BBC ● Dec. 31, 2023

Me and him both gunn be at your beck and call, ma’am, I swear it!

From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis

The White House pointed to Trump’s recent comments on the matter, including an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck in which he said Ratcliffe’s trip was “semi-routine.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

"He's there, very sort of semi-routine. I hate to disappoint people. We would like to see the war with Ukraine end," Trump said in an interview with conservative radio host Glenn Beck.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

During a call with investors, Beck noted that the window for a launch before the year ends is “narrowing” and emphasized Rocket Lab’s focus on caution over rushing the rocket’s maiden test.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

Beck even dropped in for a couple of tracks, including the anthemic “Cumbia Beckiana.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

Having just seen Beck walk into camp after being given up for dead, however, Anatoli Boukreev was unwilling to write Fischer off.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

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