[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/peck/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / peck

# peck

verb (peck, pecks, pecked, pecking); noun (a peck, pecks)

«peck» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (of a bird) To hit or pick up something with the beak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#m1)
2. Noun: a quick hit with a beak. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#m2)
3. Noun: a quick light kiss: a peck on the cheek. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#m3)
4. (old measure) A unit of dry volume, a quarter of a bushel, used for grain and fruit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#m4)
5. «Peck at your food»: to eat only a little, without hunger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#m5)
6. To peck at things can also mean to try many new things briefly, without settling on any one of them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#m6)

### In the lessons

In science and stories birds peck at seeds and worms; woodpeckers peck holes in trees. In families a peck is a little kiss. In old rhymes («Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers») and old measures, a peck is about 9 litres. «Pecking order» means who is the boss in a group.

### Examples

- The hen pecked at the corn. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x1)
- A woodpecker pecks holes in tree bark. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x2)
- Mum gave me a peck on the cheek. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x3)
- Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x4)
- The baby bird pecked its way out of the egg. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x5)
- He only pecked at his dinner because he wasn't hungry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x6)
- The oldest chicken is top of the pecking order. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x7)
- Always pecking at new things are the Bandar-log. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/#x8)

### Note

Past: pecked. In measure problems: 4 pecks = 1 bushel (US and old UK measures). A «peck» kiss is light and quick.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «peck» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/peck/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«peck» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/peck.html) on Mova free.