Jump To:

• 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.

---

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.

---

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.

---

Beck ⁴ American  

[bek] / bɛk /

noun

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

---

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

---

beck ² British  

/ bɛk /

noun

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

---

beck More Idioms  

1. see at someone's beck and call.

---

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

Since the group disbanded in 1987, he has become a serial collaborator, working with everyone from The Pretenders and Talking Heads to Bryan Ferry, Oasis, Blondie, Beck, Modest Mouse, The Cribs and Franz Ferdinand.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

Vance explained in other interviews with Fox News and Glenn Beck that he agreed to go on “The View” to reach even one in ten viewers who are persuadable.

From Salon • Jun. 17, 2026

Zug’s cityscape has changed significantly since Anja Beck, a German-born real-estate agent, moved here 22 years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

Rocket Lab’s loyal supporters are confident that Beck and the company will be successful.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026

“Sorry,” I yelled to Beck above the scream of the chopper’s turbines.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• current
• flood
• flow
• rush
• spate
• surge
• tide
• torrent
• tributary