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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

beck Beck

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

Any renewable company that is a subsidiary of a fossil fuel firm made the list, for instance, because they are "at the beck and call" of their parent group, Galey said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2025

“You can control traffic, you can control lighting. All of the equipment is at your beck and call.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2024

Social workers flappin’ round at their every beck and call!

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Both teams played with backup quarterbacks as Preston Beck for San Clemente and Eiler King for San Juan Hills were out because of injuries.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

In a presentation, Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said the launch was delayed due to an issue with the manufacturing process for Neutron’s forward dome.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Marina Beck, an attorney for the 60-year-old “Catwoman” and “John Wick: Chapter 3” star, in a statement downplayed Martinez’s protective order, granted Thursday by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

Beck added that the sites need to believe working with AI agents will bring enough new users to their platforms to boost their revenues and not become “net negative.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

“Yeah, it’s turned out to be a pretty good expedition,” he replied, then mentioned that Frank Fischbeck, Beck Weathers, Lou Kasischke, Stuart Hutchison, and John Taske had all turned back.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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