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geek
[ geek ]
noun
- a digital-technology expert or enthusiast (a term of pride as self-reference, but often used disparagingly by others).
- a person who has excessive enthusiasm for and some expertise about a specialized subject or activity:
a foreign-film geek.
- a peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, or socially awkward.
- a carnival performer who performs sensationally morbid or disgusting acts, as biting off the head of a live chicken.
verb (used without object)
- to be overexcited about a specialized subject or activity, or to talk about it with excessive enthusiasm (usually followed by out ):
I could geek out about sci-fi for hours.
geek
/ ɡiːk /
noun
- a person who is preoccupied with or very knowledgeable about computing
- a boring and unattractive social misfit
- a degenerate
Derived Forms
- ˈgeeky, adjective
Other Words From
- geeky adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of geek1
Word History and Origins
Origin of geek1
Example Sentences
It achieved global success and touched the lives of millions of theater geeks and aspiring ingenues alike with its showstopping numbers and visionary production.
"When we get to geek out, honestly, it's the best thing in the world."
Brown, Cannick said, loved to cook and play games and referred to himself as a geek.
“I’m past the point where there’s any official treatment, so I troll the edges and study everything. I’m a science geek, and now is a good time for that,” she told THR.
His years working as a video rental store clerk were pivotal in transforming Quentin Tarantino from a film geek to a Hollywood auteur, the Pulp Fiction director told the BBC.
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About This Word
What is a geek?
A geek is a person who is an expert or fan of technology and computers, as in He gave the assignment to the geeks in the IT department.
Geek is also used more generally to refer to someone who is especially passionate or knowledgeable about something, as in Shawna is the biggest Star Trek geek I know, going to all the conventions.
A geek is also someone who is judged to be too intelligent and socially awkward or just quirky or odd, especially in high school groups, as in At my high school, the geeks got along with the goths but hated the jocks.
In the past, the word geek was used to refer specifically to a carnival performer who performed disgusting acts. Today, this usage is incredibly rare, and you can use geek as an insult or endearment, especially when describing yourself.
Geek can be used as a verb to mean to express intense enthusiasm about something or to discuss it passionately, as in My friends were all geeking out about the new Spider-Man movie.
Example: My dad has always been a baseball geek, telling me all of the stats and who the upcoming stars will be.
Where does geek come from?
The first records of geek come from around 1915. It probably comes from a variant of the Scottish geck, meaning “fool,” from the Low German gek. In the past, geek was used to refer to a performer who would make a fool of themselves for others’ entertainment. Nowadays, the word geek usually describes an intelligent person.
The word geek is very similar to the word nerd, which is often used interchangeably to describe (and be mean to) the same kinds of people. While geek and nerd can still be insults today, when you label yourself as a geek or nerd, it’s a positive description, possibly. You can learn more at “What Are The Differences Between ‘Nerds,’ ‘Geeks,’ And ‘Dorks’?”
Did you know … ?
What are some other forms related to geek?
- geeky (adjective)
What are some synonyms for geek?
What are some words that share a root or word element with geek?
What are some words that often get used in discussing geek?
How is geek used in real life?
Geek is a common word that has a wide usage. Many people proudly identify themselves as geeks, especially if they are fans of or enthusiastic about something. Yet geek is still negatively used to refer to people who are deemed uncool by the speaker or are smart but socially awkward.
Someone’s come to fix our dishwasher and I’m such a geek I’m sitting in the kitchen asking lots of detailed questions about its diagnostic modes.
— Brian Cox (@ProfBrianCox) January 22, 2019
I've started watching the show The Big Bang Theory and love it. I'm finding my inner geek. Actually, who am I kidding- I am a geek :)
— Anne Keothavong (@annekeothavong) March 30, 2011
If you were a bullied geek at school plotting a lifetime revenge on the cool kids, you’ll have a decent and satisfying life as an auditor.
— Marek Zmyslowski (@marekchinedu) October 27, 2017
Try using geek!
True or False?
A comic book geek is a person who is passionate about comic books.
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