Definition Synonyms
Definition of pecking - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
movementaction of striking with a beak or pointed tool
- The pecking of the woodpecker echoed through the forest.
2.
archaeologyDated ancient method of shaping stone by repeated strikingDated
- Pecking was used to make early stone axes.
Adjective
1.
quick movementsinvolving quick, repeated movements
- The pecking motion of the bird was fascinating to watch.
2.
behaviorpersistent or repetitive in nature
- His pecking behavior was annoying everyone in the room.
Expressions with pecking
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ranking of people in a group by importance or power
The pecking order at work determines who makes decisions.
Origin of pecking
Old English, peccan (to peck)
Terms with pecking included in their meaning
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ornithology
bird with a strong beak for pecking wood
pecking order
compete forcefully to secure higher standing or benefit
bird
search for food by pecking the ground
woodpecker
bird with a strong bill for pecking wood
Examples of pecking in a sentence
We heard the steady pecking of a chisel as the mason shaped the stone. Microscopic pits on the slab suggest pecking before polishing. The report notes pecking marks along the groove’s edges. The pecking action of the woodpecker was rhythmic. Her pecking typing style was surprisingly fast. The pecking noise was driving him crazy.
Her pecking habits were hard to ignore.
View all translations of pecking
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:picorage, picorant, ...
- German:Picken, schnelle Bewegung, ...
- Italian:beccata, rapidi movimenti, ...
- Spanish:picoteo, rápido, ...
- Portuguese:bicagem, rápida, ...
- Chinese:啄击, 快速重复的移动, ...
- Japanese:つつき, 素早い動き, ...
- Arabic:نَقْر, ناقِر, ...
- Hebrew:נִקּוּר, מְנַקֵּר, ...
- Russian:клёв, быстрые движения, ...
- Ukrainian:дзьобання, швидкі рухи, ...
- Hindi:चोंच मारना, तेज़, ...
Definition of peck - Reverso English Dictionary
Verb
1.
bird actiontr./intr. strike with the beak or a pointed tooltr./intr.
- The woodpecker pecks the tree trunk.
2.
kissingtr./intr. kiss quickly and lightlytr./intr.
- He pecked her on the cheek before leaving.
3.
eatingtr./intr. eat small amounts like a birdtr./intr.
- She pecked at her salad during lunch.
4.
typingintr. Rare type by searching for each keyintr. Rare
- He pecked at the keyboard with two fingers.
5.
naggingtr. Rare US bother persistently with trivial complaintstr. Rare US
- He pecked at her about the messy room.
Noun
1.
affectionquick, light kiss
- She gave her son a peck on the cheek before school..
2.
bird actionact of striking with a beak
- The woodpecker's peck was loud and rhythmic.
3.
volume measureDated US unit of dry volume equal to 8 quartsDated US
- He bought a peck of apples at the market..
4.
amountRare US large or excessive quantityRare US
- He has a peck of troubles to deal with.
Images of peck

act of striking with a beak
Expressions with peck
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
typing method using only one or two fingers
He uses hunt and peck to type his emails.
eat in small unenthusiastic bites
She pecked at her salad during lunch.
search for food by pecking the ground
The chickens peck about in the yard.
complicated or troublesome situation
He got into a peck of trouble with the law.
Origin of peck
Middle English, pekken (to peck)
Examples of peck in a sentence
Chickens peck the ground for insects. She pecked him on the lips and smiled. The bird pecked at the seeds quickly. He pecked at the bread while reading. The child pecked at her food, uninterested. She had to peck out the email slowly.
He pecks at the keys when writing essays. She would peck at him until he gave in. The kids pecked at their parents for more screen time. He gave her a peck on the lips. A quick peck was all they had time for. The peck of the sparrow was quick and sharp. Each peck left a small mark on the tree. A peck of corn was stored in the barn. She measured out a peck of barley for the recipe. There's a peck of apples in the basket. She received a peck of letters after the announcement.
View all translations of peck
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:picorer, bisou, ...
- German:picken, flüchtiger Kuss, ...
- Italian:picchiettare, bacetto, ...
- Spanish:picotear, pico, ...
- Portuguese:bicar, selinho, ...
- Chinese:啄, 轻吻, ...
- Japanese:つつく, 軽いキス, ...
- Arabic:نَقَرَ, قُبْلَة خَفِيفَة, ...
- Hebrew:לְנַקֵּר, נְשִׁיקָה חֲטוּפָה, ...
- Russian:долбить, чмок, ...
- Ukrainian:довбати, поцілунок, ...
- Hindi:चोंच मारना, चुम्मी, ...
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