peck

¹

[pek]

verb (used with object)

1. to strike or indent with the beak, as a bird does, or with some pointed instrument, especially with quick, repeated movements.

2. to make (a hole, puncture, etc.) by such strokes; pierce.

3. to take (food) bit by bit, with or as with the beak.

verb (used without object)

1. to make strokes with the beak or a pointed instrument.

noun

1. a quick stroke, as in pecking.

2. a hole or mark made by or as by pecking.

3. a quick, almost impersonal kiss.

   a peck on the cheek.

4. (in timber) incipient decay from fungi, occurring in isolated spots.

5. Slang.,  pecks. Also peckings food; grub.

verb phrase

1. peck at

   1. to nibble indifferently or unenthusiastically at (food).

   2. to nag or carp at.

      Stop pecking at me, I'm doing the best I can.

peck

²

[pek]

noun

1. a dry measure of 8 quarts; the fourth part of a bushel, equal to 537.6 cubic inches (8.81 liters).

2. a container for measuring this quantity. pk, pk.

3. a considerable quantity.

   a peck of trouble.

Peck

³

[pek]

noun

1. Annie Smith, 1850–1935, U.S. mountain climber.

2. Gregory, 1916–2003, U.S. actor.

peck

¹

/ pɛk /

verb

1. to strike with the beak or with a pointed instrument

2. to dig (a hole) by pecking

3. (tr) (of birds) to pick up (corn, worms, etc) by pecking

4. to nibble or pick (at one's food)

5. informal,  to kiss (a person) quickly and lightly

6. to nag

noun

1. a quick light blow, esp from a bird's beak

2. a mark made by such a blow

3. informal,  a quick light kiss

peck

²

/ pɛk /

noun

1. a unit of dry measure equal to 8 quarts or one quarter of a bushel

2. a container used for measuring this quantity

3. a large quantity or number

Peck

³

/ pɛk /

noun

1. Gregory. 1916–2003, US film actor; his films include Keys of the Kingdom (1944), The Gunfighter (1950), The Big Country (1958), To Kill a Mockingbird (1963), The Omen (1976), and Other People's Money (1991)

Other Word Forms

• unpecked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of peck¹

1300–50; Middle English pekken, peke, from Middle Dutch pecken, Middle Low German pekken; akin to pick ¹

Origin of peck²

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English pek(ke); of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of peck¹

C14: of uncertain origin; compare _pick ¹ , Middle Low German pekken to jab with the beak

Origin of peck²

C13: from Anglo-Norman, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Despite my filthy state, she greeted me warmly, planting a welcome peck on my lips.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Try to imagine another star at the top of pop’s pecking order comfortable with anyone, but especially their mother, describing them as desperate.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In addition, many of these voters blame a breakdown in what they perceive as the racial pecking order for a loss of social status, especially when compared with more highly educated workers.

Read more on Salon

Which brings us to Russia’s place in the global pecking order.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The desktop computer transformed the labor market, for example, but for a while workers hunting and pecking on their keyboards didn’t know how to effectively use the technology.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal