peck

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈpek 

1

: a unit of capacity equal to ¹/₄ bushel see Weights and Measures Table

2

: a large quantity or number

peck

2 of 3

verb

pecked; pecking; pecks

transitive verb

1

a

: to strike or pierce especially repeatedly with the bill or a pointed tool

b

: to make by pecking

peck a hole

2

: to pick up with the bill

intransitive verb

1

a

: to strike, pierce, or pick up something with or as if with the bill

b

: carp, nag

2

: to eat reluctantly and in small bites

peck at food

peck

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: an impression or hole made by pecking

2

: a quick sharp stroke

3

: a quick light kiss

a peck on the cheek

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• multiplicity
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• profusion
• quantity
• raft
• reams
• scads
• sheaf
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• volume
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Verb

• nibble
• pick

Examples of peck in a Sentence

Noun (1)

now you're in a peck of trouble

Verb

The hen pecked my finger.

The woodpecker pecked a hole in the tree.

He pecked his wife on the cheek as he headed out the door.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One video shared to X (formerly Twitter) shows Rodrigo snapping a cute photo of Partridge, 21, while another captured him giving her an adorable peck on the forehead. —Michelle Lee, People.com, 4 Nov. 2024

Audiences clearly love it, so much so that bootleg recordings of the passionate peck have gone viral on TikTok. See Kit Connor, Rachel Zegler, Jack Antonoff and More Celebrate Romeo & Juliet's Broadway Opening in N.Y.C. —Dave Quinn, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024

Verb

The rest of the family’s bodies are lying out on the Navarro ranch getting pecked by crows. —James Grebey, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024

When lowrider culture was in its nascent years, car builders pecked through scrap yards for airline hydraulics. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pek, from Anglo-French

Verb

Middle English, perhaps from Middle Low German pekken

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

circa 1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing peck

• hunt-and-peck
• peck at
• peck order

Kids Definition

peck

1 of 3 noun

ˈpek 

1

: a unit of capacity equal to ¼ bushel see measure

2

: a large quantity

a peck of trouble

peck

2 of 3 verb

1

a

: to strike with the bill : thrust the beak into

b

: to make by pecking

peck holes

2

: to strike with a sharp instrument (as a pick)

3

: to pick up with the bill

a chicken pecking corn

4

: to bite daintily : nibble

peck at one's food

peck

3 of 3 noun

1

: a mark or hole made by pecking

2

: a quick sharp stroke

Etymology

Noun

Middle English pek "unit of measure," from early French pek (same meaning)

Verb

Middle English pecken "to strike or pierce repeatedly," perhaps from early German pekken (same meaning)