beak

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Pronunciation

• (British) IPA: /biːk/

Noun

beak (plural beaks)

1. Anatomical uses.
   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. (botany) Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.
2. Figurative uses.
   1. Anything projecting or ending in a point like a beak, such as a promontory of land.
   2. (architecture) A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.
   3. (farriery) A toe clip.
   4. (nautical) That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.
   5. (nautical) A beam, shod or arm#Verb|armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, used as a ram to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.
   6. (entomology) Any of various nymphalid butterflies of the genus Libythea, notable for the beak-like elongation on their heads.
3. Colloquial uses.
   1. (slang) The human nose, especially one that is large and pointed.
   2. (slang, British) A justice of the peace, magistrate, headmaster or other person of authority.
      • 1866, Temple Bar: A London Magazine for Town and Country Readers

        Harry looked rather bulky, you know, Tom, and the slop (policeman) says, 'Hallo, what you got here?' and by [blank] he took us both before the beak.

   3. (slang, Southern English) cocaine.

Synonyms

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

Translations

• French: bec
• German: Schnabel
• Italian: becco, rostro, ranfoteca
• Portuguese: bico
• Russian: клюв
• Spanish: pico

Translations

• French: bec
• German: Schnabel
• Russian: клюв

Translations

• French: éperon
• Italian: rostro

Verb

beak (beaks, present participle beaking; past and past participle beaked)

1. (transitive) Strike with the beak.
2. (transitive) Seize with the beak.
3. (intransitive, Northern Ireland) To play truant.

Synonyms

• (play truant) See also Thesaurus:play truant

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