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

After 15 years sharing the Sports Arena with USC basketball, the NBA franchise spent the last 25 as the third tenant at Crypto.com Arena, behind the Kings and Lakers in the pecking order for preferential dates.

From Los Angeles Times

You’ll see egrets and herons in the tidal wetlands of the Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge and perhaps even snowy plovers nestling in the dunes or pecking for insects in the wet sand.

From Los Angeles Times

The Clippers’ offensive pecking order remains clear, which, according to Frank, has made things easier for the team.

From Los Angeles Times

As I noted in a recent newsletter, this is a view that rejects the notion that family is about love, but instead about establishing a pecking order of status and submission.

From Salon

There were many moments when, like Willis in “Interior Chinatown,” he was reminded of his place in the Hollywood pecking order.

From Los Angeles Times