peck — to strike or bite with the beak (of birds)
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to strike or bite with the beak (of birds)
Pronunciation (IPA): /pek/
Example Sentences
- The parrot pecked my finger when I tried to feed it a cracker.
- My grandmother always gives me a peck on both cheeks when I visit her.
- The chicken pecked at its reflection in the mirror, thinking it was another chicken trying to steal its food.
peck
VERB[/pek/]
to strike or bite with the beak (of birds)
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Peck originates from Middle English as an onomatopoeia imitating the sharp sound of a bird striking with its beak. The sound 'pek' itself became associated with the pecking action, eventually developing into the verb meaning to strike or pick with a pointed object.
Breakdown
pekken (Middle English verb, 'to peck') → peck (modern English). The word is fundamentally onomatopoetic, with the sound itself serving as both the morphological root and semantic foundation.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The parrot pecked my finger when I tried to feed it a cracker.”
“My grandmother always gives me a peck on both cheeks when I visit her.”
“The chicken pecked at its reflection in the mirror, thinking it was another chicken trying to steal its food.”
“She only gave him a peck goodbye instead of a proper hug, which made him realize their relationship was cooling down.”
📚Related Words
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