peck

[ pek ]

/ pɛk /

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verb (used with object)

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

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

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

verb (used without object)

to make strokes with the beak or a pointed instrument.

noun

a quick stroke, as in pecking.

a hole or mark made by or as by pecking.

a quick, almost impersonal kiss: a peck on the cheek.

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

pecks. Also peckings .Slang. food; grub.

Verb Phrases

peck at,

to nibble indifferently or unenthusiastically at (food).
to nag or carp at: Stop pecking at me, I'm doing the best I can.

OTHER WORDS FOR peck

10a pick at, poke at.

See synonyms for peck on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of peck

1300–50; Middle English pekken, peke, from Middle Dutch pecken, Middle Low German pekken; akin to pick¹

OTHER WORDS FROM peck

un·pecked, adjective

Other definitions for peck (2 of 3)

peck²

[ pek ]

/ pɛk /

noun

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

a container for measuring this quantity. Abbreviation: pk, pk.

a considerable quantity: a peck of trouble.

Origin of peck

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH peck

pecks , pecs

Other definitions for peck (3 of 3)

Peck

[ pek ]

/ pɛk /

noun

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

Gregory, 1916–2003, U.S. actor.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use peck in a sentence

“Vicious pecking, avian hysteria, mysterious deaths, and even cannibalism” are the results, he writes.
The History of the Chicken: How This Humble Bird Saved Humanity|William O’Connor|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pecking order of democracy is reduced to this: When the president wants to go, he gets to go.
Behind the Scenes With a ‘Site Agent’: The Secret Service’s Hardest Job|Marc Ambinder|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Buzzards are all flying around pecking at them, and there are insects and flies, and you can see blood on the ground.
Aporkalypse Now: Pig-Killing Virus Could Mean the End of Bacon|Carrie Arnold|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another showed black crows pecking at a cutout of Switzerland.
Switzerland Paints EU As Cheese-Hungry Rat|Barbie Latza Nadeau|February 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

During any other month, that news alone would have signaled a new world order, an upheaval in the pecking order.
Does Katie Couric’s Move to Yahoo Signal the End of Old Media Dominance?|David Freedlander|November 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
"It beats me why they're pecking around over the same ground so much," Mac observed.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
A few days later she was prouder still when they scampered this way and that, pecking at little bugs and ants.
Seven O'Clock Stories|Robert Gordon Anderson
They punished him unmercifully, pecking at him until he was so angry that he could hardly see straight.
Bumper, The White Rabbit|George Ethelbert Walsh
Captain Wass showed a resolve to quit pecking at the edges and make a dab at the center of the subject.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
Out in the sunny yard, some pigeons were pecking at grain, and a spaniel lay asleep in a corner.
Beautiful Joe|Marshall Saunders

British Dictionary definitions for peck (1 of 3)

peck¹

/ (pɛk) /

noun

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

a container used for measuring this quantity

a large quantity or number

Word Origin for peck

C13: from Anglo-Norman, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for peck (2 of 3)

peck²

/ (pɛk) /

verb

(when intr, sometimes foll by at) to strike with the beak or with a pointed instrument

(tr sometimes foll by out) to dig (a hole) by pecking

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

(intr often foll by at) to nibble or pick (at one's food)

informal to kiss (a person) quickly and lightly

(intr foll by at) to nag

noun

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

a mark made by such a blow

informal a quick light kiss

Word Origin for peck

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

British Dictionary definitions for peck (3 of 3)

Peck

/ (pɛk) /

noun

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)

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

peck

OTHER WORDS FOR peck

Origin of peck

OTHER WORDS FROM peck

Other definitions for peck (2 of 3)

Origin of peck

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH peck

Other definitions for peck (3 of 3)

Words related to peck

How to use peck in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for peck (1 of 3)

Word Origin for peck

British Dictionary definitions for peck (2 of 3)

Word Origin for peck

British Dictionary definitions for peck (3 of 3)