Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A rigid structure projecting from the front of a bird's face, used for pecking, grooming, foraging, carrying items, eating food, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bill, neb, nib, pecker
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A similar pointed structure forming the nose and mouth of various animals, such as turtles, platypuses, whales, etc.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: anatomy, medicine, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: anatomy, biology, botany, medicine, natural-sciences, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Anything projecting or ending in a point like a beak, such as a promontory of land.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
Topics: architecture
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A toe clip.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
Topics: farriery, hobbies, horses, lifestyle, pets, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
Topics: nautical, transport
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, used as a ram to pierce the vessel of an enemy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
Topics: nautical, transport
Synonyms: beakhead
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Libythea, notable for the beak-like elongation on their heads.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable
Topics: biology, entomology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person's nose, especially one that is large and pointed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, slang, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: honker, schnozzle
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A person's mouth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Eastern, Ontario, countable, especially, slang, uncountable
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Cocaine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Southern-England, slang, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A justice of the peace; a magistrate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A schoolmaster (originally, at Eton).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Qualifier: British public schools
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To strike with the beak.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To seize with the beak.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To play truant.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Northern-Ireland, intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: beak, bob, bug out, bump off, bunk, bunk off, cut class, dip, ditch, dob, dog, go on the hop, go on the lang, go on the mitch, hop the twig, hop the wag, jig, kid, mitch, pip, play hooky, play the wag, play truant, plunk, sag off, scull, skip, skip school, skive, skive off, sluff, twag, wag, wag it
Antonyms: none provided
noun
horny projecting mouth of a bird
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: bill, neb, nib, pecker
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mouth
Narrower terms: cere
noun
beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mouth
noun
informal terms for the nose
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: honker, hooter, nozzle, snoot, snout, schnozzle, schnoz
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: nose, olfactory organ
noun
a beaklike, tapering tip on certain plant structures
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: tip
verb
hit lightly with a picking motion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: peck, pick
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: strike
History
From Middle English bec, borrowed from Anglo-Norman bec, Old French bec, from Latin beccus, from Gaulish *bekkos, from Proto-Celtic *bekkos (“beak, snout”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bak-, *baḱ- (“pointed stick, peg”). Cognate with Breton beg (“beak”). Compare Saterland Frisian Bäk (“mouth; muzzle; beak”); Dutch bek (“beak; bill; neb”).
Unknown; originally cant; first recorded in 17thC; probably related to obsolete cant beck "constable".
Across languages
157 source translations are retained for this English entry.
