beak

noun

ˈbēk 

1

a

: the bill of a bird

especially : a strong short broad bill

b(1)

: the elongated sucking mouth of some insects (such as the true bugs)

(2)

: any of various rigid projecting mouth structures (as of a turtle)

c

: the human nose

2

: a pointed structure or formation:

a

: a metal-pointed beam projecting from the bow especially of an ancient galley for piercing an enemy ship

b

: the spout of a vessel

c

: a continuous slight architectural projection ending in an arris see molding illustration

d

: a process suggesting the beak of a bird

3

chiefly British

a

: magistrate

b

: headmaster

beaked

ˈbēkt 

adjective

beaky

ˈbē-kē 

adjective

Synonyms

• bill
• neb
• nib

Examples of beak in a Sentence

the beak of a hawk

an actor with a big beak

Recent Examples on the Web

Once the sunlight shone on everything again, the flamingos awoke, eating, bathing in their pond, and pecking their beaks with each other. —Trilce Estrada Olvera, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024

In their nest overhead, Yaren and Nazli dozed, groomed themselves and filled the air with the percussive clacking of their beaks. —Safak Timur Ivor Prickett, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024

The birds’ task was to touch the circles with their beaks and tongues. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024

Nicole Kidman, Birth (2004) Kidman, crowned with an Oscar for playing Virginia Woolf with a parrot’s beak for a nose in The Hours (2002), has often kept her dance card filled with smaller, offbeat movies that don’t necessarily click with audiences. —Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024

Then, like clockwork, the birds opened their animatronic beaks and spoke. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024

The pelican caught it with its beak, but the snack slid out of its exposed and damaged pouch. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2024

The bird is particularly dinosaur-like, with red, scaly skin around her amber eyes, and a beak as long and sharp as Crocodile Dundee’s blade. —Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 10 Feb. 2024

The Hatching Chick Donut takes a glazed donut, dips it in yellow icing and white sprinkles and adds eyes and a beak with frosting. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bec, from Anglo-French, from Latin beccus, of Gaulish origin

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

beak

noun

ˈbēk 

1

a

: the bill of a bird

especially : the bill of a bird of prey adapted for striking and tearing

b

: any of various rigid mouth structures (as of a turtle) that stick out

also : the long sucking mouth of some insects

c

: the human nose

2

: a part shaped like a beak

beaked

ˈbēkt 

adjective