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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

Elliot runs around LA doing Erika’s menial tasks until he drops everything at her beck and call.

From Salon ● Jul. 31, 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

Nailer shuddered at the thought of his father with goon muscle like the half-men at his beck and call.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

Col Samantha Shepherd has been on trial at Military Court Centre at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, in connection with the handling of concerns raised by Gunner Jaysley Beck, from Cumbria.

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said there was "no action that police could have taken" that would have prevented Noah Donohoe's death.

From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026

In Florida, they are more than $700 a month, though Beck notes that this covers more amenities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

“I thought, ‘My God, this is heaven,’ ” said Beck, now 72.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

“You need to go down with Mike and the rest of the group. Where are Pete and Todd? Ask them to look after Beck, then start down.”

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

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