(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
A ~ is a very common water bird with short legs, a short neck, and a large flat beak.
N-VAR
•
Duck is the flesh of this bird when it is eaten as food.
...honey roasted ~.
N-UNCOUNT
2.
If you ~, you move your head or the top half of your body quickly downwards to avoid something that might hit you, or to avoid being seen.
He ~ed in time to save his head from a blow from the poker...
He ~ed his head to hide his admiration...
I wanted to ~ down and slip past but they saw me.
VERB: V, V n, V adv/prep
3.
If you ~ something such as a blow, you avoid it by moving your head or body quickly downwards.
Hans deftly ~ed their blows.
= dodge
VERB: V n
4.
You say that someone ~s a duty or responsibility when you disapprove of the fact that they avoid it. (INFORMAL)
The Opposition reckons the Health Secretary has ~ed all the difficult decisions...
VERB: V n disapproval
5.
see also dead ~ , lame ~ , sitting ~
6.
You say that criticism is like water off a ~’s back or water off a ~’s back to emphasize that it is not having any effect on the person being criticized.
PHRASE: v-link PHR emphasis
7.
If you take to something like a ~ to water, you discover that you are naturally good at it or that you find it very easy to do.
She took to mothering like a ~ to water.
PHRASE: V inflects