—duck /dʌk/
noun (BIRD)
A2 [C] a bird that lives by water, has webbed feet (= feet with skin between the toes), a short neck and a large beak
Thesaurus+: ↑Ducks, geese and game birdsF0 [U] the meat of this bird
Thesaurus+: ↑Kinds of meat• • •
Extra Examples:» a duck pond» Some poultry farmers keep turkeys and ducks as well as chickens.» The cat sat in the tree ready to pounce on the ducks below.» The ducks started quacking loudly when we threw them some bread.noun [C] (ALSO ducks) UK OLD-FASHIONED INFORMAL (PERSON)
► F0 a friendly way of talking to someone you like: » [as form of address] Come and sit beside me, duck.Thesaurus+: ↑Friendly and unfriendly terms of addressverb ↑Verb Endings for duck
F0 [I or T] to move your head or the top part of your body quickly down, especially to avoid being hit:
» I saw the ball hurtling towards me and ducked (down).» Duck your head or you'll bang it on the doorframe.Thesaurus+: ↑Moving in order to avoid contact , ↑Digressing and being indirect or evasiveF0 [T] to push someone underwater for a short time:
» The boys were splashing about and ducking each other in the pool.Thesaurus+: ↑Moving in order to avoid contact , ↑Digressing and being indirect or evasiveF0 [I + adv/prep] to move quickly to a place, especially in order not to be seen:
» When he saw them coming, he ducked into a doorway.Thesaurus+: ↑Moving in order to avoid contact , ↑Digressing and being indirect or evasive