duck

1 of 4

noun (1)

plural ducks
often attributive
1
or plural duck
a
: any of various swimming birds (family Anatidae, the duck family) in which the neck and legs are short, the feet typically webbed, the bill often broad and flat, and the sexes usually different from each other in plumage
often used figuratively in phrases like have one's ducks in a row, get one's ducks in a row, or put one's ducks in a row to describe being or becoming thoroughly prepared or organized
Her program's 10-week curriculum … uses a budget book to help first-timers get their financial ducks in a row.Eileen Jenkins
I'm to prepare for a formal review in two weeks. Reserve a conference room. Get all my ducks in a row.Chuck Palahniuk
The association was set to move forward last spring, then realized it didn't have its ducks in a row and essentially requested a Congressional bailout.Pat Forde
I was sure I had all of my ducks in a row before the event finally arrived. Somehow, it didn't turn out as planned.Jerry Carlson
… had prepared for a year, meeting with institutional investors and putting its ducks in a row for public scrutiny for months …Alex Konrad
b
: the flesh of any of these birds used as food
The menu features roast duck.
2
: a female duck compare drake
3
: person, creature
You lucky duck!
see also odd duck
4
chiefly British : darling
often used in plural but singular in construction
'You all right, ducks?' Mum asked. 'You've got no colour at all.'Nan Chauncy

Illustration of duck

Illustration of duck
  • 1 bean
  • 2 bill
  • 3 nostril
  • 4 head
  • 5 eye
  • 6 auricular region
  • 7 neck
  • 8 cape
  • 9 shoulder
  • 10 11 wing coverts
  • 12 saddle
  • 13 secondaries
  • 14 primaries
  • 15 rump
  • 16 drake feathers
  • 17 tail
  • 18 tail coverts
  • 19 down
  • 20 shank
  • 21 web
  • 22 breast
  • 23 wing front
  • 24 wing bow

duck

2 of 4

verb

ducked; ducking; ducks

intransitive verb

1
a
: to lower the head or body suddenly : dodge
b
: bow, bob
2
a
: to move quickly
b
: to evade a duty, question, or responsibility
3
a
: to plunge under the surface of water
b
: to descend suddenly : dip

transitive verb

1
: to lower (the head, the body, etc.) quickly : bow
2
: avoid, evade
duck the issue
3
British : to thrust (someone or something) underwater : dunk
ducker noun

duck

3 of 4

noun (2)

: an instance of ducking

duck

4 of 4

noun (3)

1
: a durable closely woven usually cotton fabric
2
ducks plural : light clothes and especially trousers made of duck

Examples of duck in a Sentence

Verb The ceiling was so low I had to duck my head. He ducked his head so they wouldn't see him. We can't afford to duck the issue any longer. They've been ducking each other for months. She ducked into a store when it started to rain. He ducked around a corner.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
About 40 minutes later, Vernon Nash entered the stall, ducking under the clothes hanging from the ceiling like a welcome curtain. Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 In addition, analysis of dozens of videos, including an edited video released by the Israel Defense Forces, reveals that crowds ran and ducked while lifeless bodies lay in the road near two Israeli armored vehicles. Jonathan Baran, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 West should duck the first trump and win the second. Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Seconds later, the soldiers duck and grimace as shells land just yards from them, throwing up clouds of dust and dirt. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Following a car chase, Thomas ducked back into the car and emerged blasting rounds at Gordon, who immediately returned fire. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2024 Most folks won't even have to duck when stepping up and in. Tim Stevens, Ars Technica, 5 Feb. 2024 The flipside is that ducking a debate would also be a risk. Matthew Yglesias, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2024 On offense, Betts ducked under or around Kyei until the UCLA center picked up three of her four fouls in the third. Beth Harris, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2024
Noun
Long the obsession of ducks, azolla could grow into an increasingly essential crop for humans, too. Matt Simon, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 The menu there replicates roughly 80 percent of the dishes from the Convoy flagship, including duck fat fries, crispy chicken wings, Chinese sausage flatbread and bulgogi cheesesteak with Korean-style marinated beef. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2024 Miller said there was one prior complaint about duck boats at the location, a violation of site plan usage. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 Menu highlights include a $100 seafood tower, plus scallop ceviche, octopus tostadas, duck carpaccio and pork belly. The Arizona Republic, 4 Mar. 2024 That’s when ‘jeep ducking’ or ‘duck, duck Jeep’ began. Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2024 Pork, duck, sugar pie:Hoosier culinary culture is on display in national food competition Contestants toured dining hot spots and Indy landmarks, including St. Elmo Steak House, Gallery Pastry Shop and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; recorded for a show aired on the Cooking Channel. The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024 Contributors began using the portal in 2015 to log water temperature and salinity data, note observations of important wildlife species—such as beluga and common eider ducks—and track the flow of contaminants through the food web. Hannah Hoag, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 Other dishes were similarly transcendent: a slab of duck breast was tender and rare, with crisp skin and a dazzling swash of orange sauce. Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'duck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English duk, doke, from Old English dūce

Verb

Middle English douken; akin to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Old English dūce duck

Noun (3)

Dutch doek cloth; akin to Old High German tuoh cloth

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun (2)

1554, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of duck was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near duck

Cite this Entry

“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duck. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

duck

1 of 4 noun
plural duck or ducks
: any of various typically web-footed swimming birds with the neck and legs short, the body heavy, the bill often broad and flat, and the males and females usually differing in color
also : the flesh of a duck used as food

duck

2 of 4 verb
1
: to thrust or plunge underwater
2
: to lower the head or body suddenly
3
: to move quickly : disappear suddenly
he ducked around the corner to escape detection
4
: to evade a duty, question, or responsibility : dodge entry 2
ducked our question
ducker noun

duck

3 of 4 noun
1
: a coarse usually cotton cloth
2
plural : clothes made of duck

duck

4 of 4 noun
: an amphibious truck
Etymology

Noun

Old English dūce "duck"

Verb

Middle English douken "thrust under water"

Noun

from Dutch doek "cloth"

Noun

altered form of DUKW, military code name for this vehicle

Medical Definition

duck

noun
plural ducks or duck
: any of various swimming birds (family Anatidae, the duck family) in which the neck and legs are short, the feet typically webbed, the bill often broad and flat, and the sexes usually different from each other in plumage

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