beak

beak
noun Etymology: Middle English bec, from Anglo-French, from Latin beccus, of Gaulish origin Date: 13th century 1. a. the bill of a bird; especially a strong short broad bill b. (1) the elongated sucking mouth of some insects (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. headmasterbeaked adjectivebeaky adjective

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • beak — beak; beak·horn; beak·ing; beak·iron; de·beak; gros·beak; beak·er; …   English syllables

  • Beak — (b[=e]k), n. [OE. bek, F. bec, fr. Celtic; cf. Gael. & Ir. bac, bacc, hook, W. bach.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny sheath, covering the jaws. The form varies much according to the food and habits of the bird …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • beak — (n.) mid 13c., bird s bill, from O.Fr. bec beak, figuratively mouth, also tip or point of a nose, a lance, a ship, a shoe, from L. beccus (Cf. It. becco, Sp. pico), said by Suetonius ( De vita Caesarum 18) to be of Gaulish origin, perhaps from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Beak|er — «BEE kuhr», noun. 1. a large cup or drinking glass with a wide mouth: »a full beaker of wine. SYNONYM(S): goblet. 2. a thin glass or metal cup used especially in laboratories. A beaker has a flat bottom, no handle, and often a small lip for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beak|er — «BEE kuhr», noun. 1. a large cup or drinking glass with a wide mouth: »a full beaker of wine. SYNONYM(S): goblet. 2. a thin glass or metal cup used especially in laboratories. A beaker has a flat bottom, no handle, and often a small lip for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beak — [bi:k] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: bec, from Latin beccus] 1.) the hard pointed mouth of a bird = ↑bill 2.) a large pointed nose used humorously 3.) BrE old fashioned a judge or a male teacher …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • beak — [ bik ] noun count * 1. ) the hard curved or pointed part of a bird s mouth 2. ) VERY INFORMAL a long pointed nose …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • beak — *bill, neb, nib …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • beak — [n] nose of animal bill, mandible, muzzle, neb, nib, nozzle, pecker, proboscis, projection, prow, snout; concept 392 …   New thesaurus

  • beak — ► NOUN 1) a bird s horny projecting jaws; a bill. 2) a projection at the prow of an ancient warship, used in attacking enemy ships. 3) Brit. informal a magistrate or schoolmaster. DERIVATIVES beaked adjective beaky adjective. ORIGIN Latin beccus …   English terms dictionary

  • beak — [bēk] n. [ME bek < OFr bec < L beccus < Gaul] 1. a bird s bill, esp. the large, sharp, horny bill of a bird of prey 2. a beaklike part or thing, as the protruding mouthpart of various insects, fishes, etc., or the spout of a pitcher 3.… …   English World dictionary

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