pecks; pecked; pecking
1
of a bird
a
: to strike sharply at something with the beak
—+ at
A crow pecked at the lawn, hunting for bugs.
The hen pecked my finger.
b
: to make (something) by pecking with the beak
The woodpecker pecked a hole in the tree.
2
: to kiss (someone) lightly and quickly
He pecked his wife on the cheek as he headed out the door.
plural pecks
1
: the act of pecking something : a quick, sharp strike with the beak
The bird took a peck at the corn. [=the bird pecked the corn]
2
informal
: a quick kiss
She gave her son a peck on the cheek.
plural pecks
: a unit for measuring an amount of fruit, vegetables, or grain that is equal to about 8.8 liters in the U.S. and about 9.1 liters in the U.K.
Cite this Entry
“Peck.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/peck. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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