duck

¹duck

noun, often attributive \ˈdək\

plural ducks

Definition of DUCK

1

or plural duck

a : any of various swimming birds (family Anatidae, the duck family) in which the neck and legs are short, the feet typically webbed, the bill often broad and flat, and the sexes usually different from each other in plumage

b : the flesh of any of these birds used as food

2

: a female duck — compare drake

3

chiefly British : darling —often used in plural but singular in construction

4

: person, creature

Illustration of DUCK

Origin of DUCK

Middle English duk, doke, from Old English dūce

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

Rhymes with DUCK

buck, chuck, cluck, cruck, guck, huck, luck, muck, pluck, puck, ruck, schmuck, shuck, struck, suck, truck, Truk, tuck, yech, yuck

²duck

verb

Definition of DUCK

transitive verb

1

: to thrust under water

2

: to lower (as the head) quickly : bow

3

: avoid, evade <duck the issue>

intransitive verb

1

a : to plunge under the surface of water

b : to descend suddenly : dip

2

a : to lower the head or body suddenly : dodge

b : bow, bob

3

a : to move quickly

b : to evade a duty, question, or responsibility

— duck·er noun

Examples of DUCK

1. The ceiling was so low I had to duck.
2. The ceiling was so low I had to duck my head.
3. He ducked his head so they wouldn't see him.
4. We can't afford to duck the issue any longer.
5. They've been ducking each other for months.
6. She ducked into a store when it started to rain.
7. He ducked around a corner.

Origin of DUCK

Middle English douken; akin to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Old English dūce duck

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DUCK

Synonyms

avoid, dodge, escape, elude, eschew, evade, finesse, get around, scape, shake, shirk, shuffle (out of), shun, weasel (out of)

Related Words

miss; avert, deflect, divert, obviate, parry, prevent, ward (off); ban, bar, debar, eliminate, except, exclude, preclude, rule out; bypass, circumvent, skirt; foil, fox, frustrate, outfox, outsmart, outwit, overreach, thwart

Near Antonyms

accept, court, embrace, pursue, seek, welcome; catch, contract, incur

³duck

noun

Definition of DUCK

: an instance of ducking

First Known Use of DUCK

1554

⁴duck

noun

Definition of DUCK

1

: a durable closely woven usually cotton fabric

2

plural : light clothes and especially trousers made of duck

Origin of DUCK

Dutch doek cloth; akin to Old High German tuoh cloth

First Known Use: 1640

Other Textiles Terms

batt, bias, brocade, flock, lawn, toile

duck

noun \ˈdək\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; ducksor ; duck

Medical Definition of DUCK

: any of various swimming birds (family Anatidae, the duck family) in which the neck and legs are short, the feet typically webbed, the bill often broad and flat, and the sexes usually different from each other in plumage

duck

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of various relatively small, short-necked, large-billed waterfowl (several genera in subfamily Anatinae, family Anatidae). The legs of true ducks (Anatinae) are placed rearward (as are those of swans), resulting in a waddling gait. Most true ducks differ from swans and true geese (see goose) in that male ducks molt twice annually, females lay large clutches of smooth-shelled eggs, and both sexes have overlapping scales on the skin of the leg and exhibit some differences between sexes in plumage and in call. All true ducks except shelducks and sea ducks (see diving duck) mature in the first year and pair only for the season. They are generally divided into three groups: perching ducks, dabbling ducks, and diving ducks. The whistling duck species, also called tree ducks, are not true ducks but are more closely related to geese and swans.