duck

[ duhk ]

/ dʌk /

noun, plural ducks, (especially collectively for 1, 2) duck.

any of numerous wild or domesticated web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genus Anas and allied genera, characterized by abroad, flat bill, short legs, and depressed body.

the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male.Compare drake¹.

the flesh of this bird, eaten as food.

Informal. person; individual: He's the queer old duck with the shaved head and walrus mustache.

a playing marble, especially one that is not used as a shooter.

ducks, (used with a singular verb)British Slang. ducky².

Cricket Slang.

failure of a batsman to score: to be out for a duck.
a player's score of zero: to be bowled for a duck.Compare goose egg (def. 1).

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a person who acts as though he or she knows everything and who dismisses the opinions, comments, or suggestions of others.

a person who spends possessions or money extravagantly or wastefully; spendthrift.

a well-intentioned but naive and often ineffectual social or political reformer.

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Idioms for duck

water off a duck's back, something that has little or no effect: Our criticisms of his talk rolled off him like water off a duck's back.

Origin of duck

First recorded before 1000; Middle English duk, doke, Old English dūce “diver, duck”; akin to duck²

Definition for duck (2 of 4)

duck²

[ duhk ]

/ dʌk /

verb (used without object)

to stoop or bend suddenly; bob.

to avoid or evade a blow, unpleasant task, etc.; dodge.

to plunge the whole body or the head momentarily under water.

Cards Informal. to play a card lower than the card led.

verb (used with object)

to lower suddenly: Duck your head going through that low doorway.

to avoid or evade (a blow, unpleasant task, etc.); dodge: to duck a hard right;to duck an embarrassing question.

to plunge or dip in water momentarily.

Cards Informal. to play a card lower than (the card led).

noun

an act or instance of ducking.

Origin of duck

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English duken, douken; cognate with German tauchen “to dive,” ducken “to duck”

SYNONYMS FOR duck

1 bow, dodge.

3 dive, dip, souse.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR duck ON THESAURUS.COM

Definition for duck (3 of 4)

duck³

[ duhk ]

/ dʌk /

noun

a heavy, plain-weave cotton fabric for tents, clothing, bags, etc., in any of various weights and widths.

ducks, (used with a plural verb) slacks or trousers made of this material.

Origin of duck

First recorded in 1630–40; from Dutch doek “cloth”; cognate with German Tuch

Definition for duck (4 of 4)

duck⁴

[ duhk ]

/ dʌk /

noun

DUKW.

Origin of duck

⁴

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; by alteration

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for duck

He instead flew off to Denver for fundraising and a speech some of his fellow Democrats are ducking.
Obama, Why Aren’t You in Chiraq?|Michael Daly|July 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She and her husband crawled on the floor, ducking as “falling glass, chandeliers, plates, food, and drink” fell on top of them.
I Survived a Deadly Shipwreck: Costa Concordia Passengers Tell Their Stories|Barbie Latza Nadeau|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When ducking into darkness beneath the deck, the savvy pirate would simply switch his eye patch from one eye to the other.
Body Hack: How to See in the Dark (Like Pirates!)|Brian Ries|December 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Ducking the beams becomes more and more of an effort, and sometimes you forget to duck.
Thatcher's Economic Legacy|Megan McArdle|April 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Ducking debates is impossible now, but preparing for predictable problems, and even easy questions, should be Campaign 101.
Mitt Romney Lost the Summer: Tax Returns, Overseas Gaffes, & More|Robert Shrum|August 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
By the way, when you fire at a guanaco they will sway their heads downwards with an odd sort of ducking motion.
Through the Heart of Patagonia|H. Hesketh Prichard
I should rather have stood my chance for a ducking, than to have been shut up with such a 'promiskus' men-agerie.
The Life and Beauties of Fanny Fern|Anonymous
In ducking, he got his bat in front of the ball, a result he had never obtained with his eyes open.
Pitching in a Pinch|Christy Mathewson
Again the hunchback received a ducking under the pump, and then went out to the barn to make his toilet.
Jack the Hunchback|James Otis
The next time it was a West-Sider who got a ducking, but seemed none the worse for it.
Boyhood in Norway|Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen

British Dictionary definitions for duck (1 of 4)

duck¹

/ (dʌk) /

noun plural ducks or duck

any of various small aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, typically having short legs, webbed feet, and a broad blunt bill: order Anseriformes

the flesh of this bird, used as food

the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (drake)

any other bird of the family Anatidae, including geese, and swans

Also: ducks British informal dear or darling: used as a term of endearment or of general addressSee also ducky

informal a person, esp one regarded as odd or endearing

cricket a score of nothing by a batsman

like water off a duck's back informal without effect

take to something like a duck to water informal to become adept at or attracted to something very quickly

Word Origin for duck

Old English dūce duck, diver; related to duck ²

British Dictionary definitions for duck (2 of 4)

duck²

/ (dʌk) /

verb

to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp so as to escape observation or evade a blow

to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water

(when intr, often foll by out) informal to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc)

(intr) bridge to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick

noun

the act or an instance of ducking

Derived forms of duck

ducker, noun

Word Origin for duck

C14: related to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Middle Dutch dūken

British Dictionary definitions for duck (3 of 4)

duck³

/ (dʌk) /

noun

a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etcSee also ducks

Word Origin for duck

C17: from Middle Dutch doek; related to Old High German tuoh cloth

British Dictionary definitions for duck (4 of 4)

duck⁴

/ (dʌk) /

noun

an amphibious vehicle used in World War II

Word Origin for duck

C20: from code name DUKW

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with duck

duck

In addition to the idioms beginning with duck

duck out
duck soup

also see:

dead duck
get one's ducks in a row
lame duck
like water off a duck's back
sitting duck
take to (like a duck to water)
ugly duckling

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WORD OF THE DAY

duck

noun, plural ducks, (especially collectively for 1, 2) duck.