peck

UK: /ˈpɛk/ US: /pɛk/ ,(pek)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

peck¹ /pɛk/   n. [countable]

1. Weights and Measures a unit of measurement for dry goods, equal to 8 quarts;
   the fourth part of a bushel, equal to 537.6 cubic inches (8.81 liters).
2. Weights and Measures a container for measuring this quantity.
3. a considerable quantity:
   a peck of trouble.

peck² /pɛk/   v. 

1. Birds to strike or pierce with the beak, as a bird does: [~ + object]
   The birds pecked a hole in the bag of seed.
   [no object]
   birds pecking at the ground.
2. Birds to kiss (someone) lightly on the cheek:
   [~ + object] She pecked him quickly on the cheek.
3. peck at, [~ + at + object]
   • to nibble at (food) without much interest:
     sat there pecking at his meal.
   • to nag:
     kept pecking at him to load the dishwasher.

n. [countable]

4. a quick stroke, as in pecking.
5. a quick, light kiss:
   a little peck on the cheek.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

peck¹  (pek), n. 

1. Weights and Measures a dry measure of 8 quarts;
   the fourth part of a bushel, equal to 537.6 cubic inches (8.81 liters).
2. Weights and Measures a container for measuring this quantity. Abbr.: pk, pk.
3. a considerable quantity:
   a peck of trouble.

• ?
• Old French
• Middle English pek 1250–1300

peck²  (pek), v.t. 

1. Birds to strike or indent with the beak, as a bird does, or with some pointed instrument, esp. with quick, repeated movements.
2. to make (a hole, puncture, etc.) by such strokes;
   pierce.
3. Birds to take (food) bit by bit, with or as with the beak.

v.i. 

4. Birds to make strokes with the beak or a pointed instrument.
5. peck at:
   • to nibble indifferently or unenthusiastically at (food).
   • to nag or carp at:
     Stop pecking at me, I'm doing the best I can.

n. 

6. a quick stroke, as in pecking.
7. a hole or mark made by or as by pecking.
8. a quick, almost impersonal kiss:
   a peck on the cheek.
9. Plant Diseases (in timber) incipient decay from fungi, occurring in isolated spots.
10. pecks. Also, peck′ings. [Slang.] food.

• Middle Dutch pecken; akin to pick¹
• Middle English pecke 1300–50

Synonyms

• 5. a. pick at, poke at.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

peck / 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

Etymology: 13th Century: from Anglo-Norman, of uncertain origin

peck / pɛk/ verb

1. when intr, sometimes followed by at: to strike with the beak or with a pointed instrument
2. (transitive) sometimes followed by out: to dig (a hole) by pecking
3. (transitive) (of birds) to pick up (corn, worms, etc) by pecking
4. (intransitive) often followed by at: to nibble or pick (at one's food)
5. to kiss (a person) quickly and lightly
6. (intransitive) followed by at: to nag

noun

1. a quick light blow, esp from a bird's beak
2. a mark made by such a blow
3. a quick light kiss

Etymology: 14th Century: of uncertain origin; compare pick¹, Middle Low German pekken to jab with the beak

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Peck / pɛk/ noun

1. 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)