Definition

1. Noun:

   • A unit of dry volume: A peck is a unit of dry volume, equal to 8 quarts or approximately 8.81 liters in the US customary system, and 2 gallons in the British imperial system.
   • A light, quick kiss: A peck can refer to a brief, light kiss.
   • A quick, sharp strike with a beak: The act of a bird striking or picking at something with its beak.
   • (Informal) A large amount: A large but indefinite quantity of something, often used in the phrase "a peck of".

2. Verb:

   • To strike or pick up with a beak: The action of a bird using its beak to hit, pick at, or eat something.
   • To kiss lightly and quickly: To give someone a brief, light kiss.
   • To eat food in small, tentative bites: To eat very little or without enthusiasm, picking at one's food.
   • To make by striking with a pointed tool: To strike or chip at something with a pointed instrument.

Examples

• Noun:

  • She bought a peck of apples at the market.
  • He gave her a quick peck on the cheek before leaving.
  • The chicken gave a sharp peck to the seed.

• Verb:

  • The sparrow pecked at the breadcrumbs.
  • He pecked his daughter on the forehead.
  • She just pecked at her salad, not feeling hungry.

Advanced Usage

• "a peck of trouble": A lot of problems or difficulties.

  • The new software update caused a peck of trouble for the IT department.

• "pecking order": The hierarchy of status or authority among a group of people or animals.

  • It took the new employee a while to understand the office pecking order.

Variants and Related Words

• Pecker (n, informal): A bird that pecks; also a slang term for courage or nerve (e.g., "Keep your pecker up" meaning stay cheerful).
• Peckish (adj, chiefly British): Slightly hungry.
  • I'm feeling a bit peckish; let's have a snack.

Synonyms

• Noun (kiss): Smooch, buss (informal).
• Verb (strike with beak): Pick, jab, poke.
• Verb (eat sparingly): Nibble, pick at.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Peck at:
  • To eat food in small, unenthusiastic bites.

    • The child just pecked at his dinner.
  • To criticize someone repeatedly about minor issues.

    • His boss is always pecking at him for tiny mistakes.

Related Idioms

• "Hens peck": A proverbial saying implying that problems or criticisms are often small and numerous.
  • Dealing with customer complaints is like hens peck—constant and petty.
• "Peck and perch" (archaic): Refers to basic necessities like food and shelter.
  • The job doesn't pay much, but it provides peck and perch.

Noun

1. a United States dry measure equal to 8 quarts or 537.605 cubic inches
2. a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 2 gallons
3. (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent
   • a batch of letters
   • a deal of trouble
   • a lot of money
   • he made a mint on the stock market
   • see the rest of the winners in our huge passel of photos
   • it must have cost plenty
   • a slew of journalists
   • a wad of money

Verb

1. bother persistently with trivial complaints
   • She nags her husband all day long
2. eat like a bird
   • The anorexic girl just picks at her food
3. kiss lightly
4. eat by pecking at, like a bird
5. hit lightly with a picking motion