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duck
1[ duhk ]
noun
- any of numerous wild or domesticated web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genus Anas and allied genera, characterized by abroad, flat bill, short legs, and depressed body.
- the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male. Compare drake 1.
- the flesh of this bird, eaten as food.
- Informal. person; individual:
He's the queer old duck with the shaved head and walrus mustache.
- a playing marble, especially one that is not used as a shooter.
- ducks, (used with a singular verb) British Slang. ducky 2.
- Cricket Slang.
- failure of a batsman to score:
to be out for a duck.
- a player's score of zero: Compare goose egg ( def 1 ).
to be bowled for a duck.
duck
2[ duhk ]
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
- to lower suddenly:
Duck your head going through that low doorway.
- to avoid or evade (a blow, unpleasant task, etc.); dodge: to duck an embarrassing question.
to duck a hard right;
to duck an embarrassing question.
- to plunge or dip in water momentarily.
- Cards Informal. to play a card lower than (the card led).
noun
- an act or instance of ducking.
duck
3[ duhk ]
noun
- a heavy, plain-weave cotton fabric for tents, clothing, bags, etc., in any of various weights and widths.
- ducks, (used with a plural verb) slacks or trousers made of this material.
duck
4[ duhk ]
noun
- DUKW.
duck
1/ »åÊŒ°ì /
noun
- any of various small aquatic birds of the family Anatidae, typically having short legs, webbed feet, and a broad blunt bill: order Anseriformes
- the flesh of this bird, used as food
- the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (drake)
- any other bird of the family Anatidae, including geese, and swans
- informal.Alsoducks dear or darling: used as a term of endearment or of general address See also ducky
- informal.a person, esp one regarded as odd or endearing
- cricket a score of nothing by a batsman
- like water off a duck's back informal.without effect
- take to something like a duck to water informal.to become adept at or attracted to something very quickly
duck
2/ »åÊŒ°ì /
verb
- to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away, esp so as to escape observation or evade a blow
- to submerge or plunge suddenly and often briefly under water
- informal.whenintr, often foll by out to dodge or escape (a person, duty, etc)
- intr bridge to play a low card when possessing a higher one rather than try to win a trick
noun
- the act or an instance of ducking
duck
3/ »åÊŒ°ì /
noun
- a heavy cotton fabric of plain weave, used for clothing, tents, etc See also ducks
duck
4/ »åÊŒ°ì /
noun
- an amphibious vehicle used in World War II
Derived Forms
- ˈ»å³Ü³¦°ì±ð°ù, noun
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of duck1
Origin of duck2
Origin of duck3
Origin of duck4
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of duck1
Origin of duck2
Origin of duck3
Origin of duck4
Idioms and Phrases
- water off a duck's back, something that has little or no effect:
Our criticisms of his talk rolled off him like water off a duck's back.
More idioms and phrases containing duck
- dead duck
- get one's ducks in a row
- lame duck
- like water off a duck's back
- sitting duck
- take to (like a duck to water)
- ugly duckling
Example Sentences
Novice chaser looking to break duck for trainer, who is one of the greats but has poor record in this race – with no win from 43 previous runners.
The teen ducked underwater, saw a shadow and feared that it was a shark.
Adorned with tea rooms, pubs and a duck pond surrounded by Georgian homes, it is less than two miles from the migrant accommodation.
His key strategy seems to be using dead bodies as duck decoys, hunting whoever cares about his latest corpse.
Now in its 19th series, criticism of The Apprentice falls "like water off a duck's back" these days, he said.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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