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. pecks. Also peckings. Slang. food; grub.

verb phrase

1. 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 /

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

²

/ pɛk /

verb

1. whenintr, sometimes foll by at to strike with the beak or with a pointed instrument
2. trsometimes foll byout to dig (a hole) by pecking
3. tr (of birds) to pick up (corn, worms, etc) by pecking
4. introften foll byat to nibble or pick (at one's food)
5. informal.
   to kiss (a person) quickly and lightly
6. intrfoll byat 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

³

/ pɛk /

noun

1. PeckGregory19162003MUSFILMS AND TV: actor 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 Words From

• un·pecked 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

C13: from Anglo-Norman, of uncertain origin

Origin of peck²

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

Example Sentences

A weekly roundup of the most important stories from the worlds of business and finance, hosted by Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers.

From Slate

Emily Peck is the co-host of Slate Money and a markets correspondent for Axios.

From Slate

Emily Peck is joined by Lauren Sherman and Chantal Fernandez, authors of Selling Sexy: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon to discuss the origins of the ubiquitous bra retailer, its role in the rise of fast fashion, and how the brand successfully reflected the culture–until it suddenly didn’t.

From Slate

A weekly roundup of the most important stories from the worlds of business and finance, hosted by Felix Salmon, Emily Peck, and Elizabeth Spiers.

From Slate

Emily Peck, Elizabeth Spiers, and Anna Szymanski discuss what traders are actually betting on and how a Trump economy will affect consumers.

From Slate