beak

UK: /ˈbiːk/ US: /bik/ ,(bēk)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

beak /bik/   n. [countable]

1. Birds the hard, curved, horny part of a bird's mouth; bill.
2. Zoology any horny or stiff mouthpart of an animal that sticks out or is curved like a bird's.
3. Slang Terms Slang. a person's nose:
   His beak curved out and down.

beaked /bikt, ˈbikɪd/  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

beak  (bēk), n. 

1. Birds the bill of a bird; neb.
2. Zoology any similar horny mouthpart in other animals, as the turtle or duckbill.
3. anything beaklike or ending in a point, as the spout of a pitcher.
4. Slang Terms a person's nose.
5. Insects [Entomol.] proboscis (def. 3).
6. Botany a narrowed or prolonged tip.
7. Nautical, Naval Terms (formerly) a metal or metal-sheathed projection from the bow of a warship, used to ram enemy vessels;
   ram;
   rostrum.
8. Printing [Typography.] a serif on the arm of a character, as of a K.
9. Architecture Also called bird's beak. a pendant molding forming a drip, as on the soffit of a cornice.
10. [Chiefly Brit. Slang.]
    • British Terms a judge;
      magistrate.
    • British Terms a schoolmaster.

• Gaulish
• Latin beccus
• Old French
• Middle English bec 1175–1225

beaked  (bēkt, bē′kid), adj.  beak′less, adj. 
beak′like′, adj. 
beak′y, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

beak / biːk/ noun

1. the projecting jaws of a bird, covered with a horny sheath; bill
2. any beaklike mouthpart in other animals, such as turtles
3. a person's nose, esp one that is large, pointed, or hooked
4. any projecting part, such as the pouring lip of a bucket
5. another word for ram5

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French bec, from Latin beccus, of Gaulish origin

beaked / biːkt/ adjective

ˈbeaky adjective

beak / biːk/ noun

1. a Brit slang word for judge, magistrate, headmaster, schoolmaster

Etymology: 19th Century: originally thieves' jargon