beck

UK: /ˈbɛk/ US: /bɛk/ ,(bek)

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

beck¹ /bɛk/  n. [uncountable] Idioms

1. Idioms at someone's beck and call, ready and willing to do what someone wishes:
   was always at the boss's beck and call.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

beck¹  (bek), n. 

1. a gesture used to signal, summon, or direct someone.
2. Idioms at someone's beck and call, ready to do someone's bidding;
   subject to someone's slightest wish:
   He has three servants at his beck and call.
3. Scottish Terms [Chiefly Scot.] a bow or curtsy of greeting.

v.t., v.i. 

4. [Archaic.] beckon.

• Middle English becken, short variant of becnen to beckon 1325–75

beck²  (bek), n. [North Eng.]

1. British Terms a brook, esp. a swiftly running stream with steep banks.

• Indo-European *bhog-lā
• Scandinavian; compare Old Norse bekkr; akin to Old English bece, Dutch beek, German Bach brook, Middle Irish bual flowing water
• Middle English becc 1250–1300

beck³  (bek), v.t. [Metalworking.]

1. Metallurgy to form (a billet or the like) into a tire or hoop by rolling or hammering on a mandrel or anvil.

• verb, verbal use of beck (noun, nominal), shortening of beck-iron, variant of bick-iron

Beck  (bek), n. 

1. Biographical Dave, born 1894, U.S. labor leader: president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters 1952–57.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

beck / bɛk/ noun

1. a nod, wave, or other gesture or signal
2. at someone's beck and call ⇒ ready to obey someone's orders instantly; subject to someone's slightest whim

Etymology: 14th Century: short for becnen to beckon

beck / bɛk/ noun

1. (in N England) a stream, esp a swiftly flowing one

Etymology: Old English becc, from Old Norse bekkr; related to Old English bece, Old Saxon beki, Old High German bah brook, Sanskrit bhanga wave