Beak

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /biːk/
• Rhymes: -iːk

Origin

Middle English bec, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin beccus, from Gaulish beccus, *bekkos, from Proto-Celtic *bekkos ("beak, snout"), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bak-, *baḱ- ("pointed stick, peg"). Cognate with Breton beg ("beak").

Full definition of beak

Noun

1. A rigid structure projecting from the front of a bird's face, used for pecking, grooming and for eating food.
2. A similar structure forming the jaws of an octopus, turtle, etc.
3. The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera.
4. The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve.
5. The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal.
6. (nautical) The metal point fixed on the bows of a war galley, used as a ram.
7. (slang) A justice of the peace, magistrate, headmaster or other person of authority.He's up before the beak again tomorrow.I clapp'd my peepers full of tears, and so the old beak set me free; I began to weep, and the judge set me free.
• 24 January 2014, Matthew Norman, Hercules of the Yard can fix boorish Britain: There's a long list of possible miscreants for the Essex PC who made a splash over a puddle [print version: 25 January 2014], That an unnamed 22-year-old will be up before the Colchester beak in March under the Road Traffic Act's recherché section 3 â€“ covering inconsiderate driving and with a maximum fine of £5,000 â€“ may at first sight seem a facetious use of court resources.
8. (slang) The human nose, especially one that is large and pointed.
9. Anything projecting or ending in a point, like a beak, such as a promontory of land.
10. A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, in order to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.
11. (nautical) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.
12. (architecture) A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.
13. (botany) Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.
14. (farriery) A toe clip.

Synonyms

• (rigid structure projecting from a bird's face) bill
• (human nose) schnozzle

Derived terms

• beakish
• wet one's beak

Verb

1. (transitive) strike with the beak.
2. (transitive) seize with the beak.

Anagrams

• bake