BEAK


Meaning of BEAK in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈbēk ]

noun

Etymology: Middle English bec, from Anglo-French, from Latin beccus, of Gaulish origin

Date: 13th century

1.

a. : the bill of a bird ; especially : a strong short broad bill

b.

(1) : the elongated sucking mouth of some insects (as the true bugs)

(2) : any of various rigid projecting mouth structures (as of a turtle)

c. : the human nose

2. : a pointed structure or formation:

a. : a metal-pointed beam projecting from the bow especially of an ancient galley for piercing an enemy ship

b. : the spout of a vessel

c. : a continuous slight architectural projection ending in an arris — see molding illustration

d. : a process suggesting the beak of a bird

3. chiefly British

a. : magistrate

b. : headmaster

• beaked ˈbēkt adjective

• beaky ˈbē-kē adjective

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.