beak

beak
—beaked /beekt, bee"kid/, adj. —beakless, adj. —beaklike, adj. —beaky, adj.
/beek/, n.
1. the bill of a bird; neb.
2. any similar horny mouthpart in other animals, as the turtle or duckbill.
3. anything beaklike or ending in a point, as the spout of a pitcher.
4. Slang. a person's nose.
5. Entomol. proboscis (def. 3).
6. Bot. a narrowed or prolonged tip.
7. Naut. (formerly) a metal or metal-sheathed projection from the bow of a warship, used to ram enemy vessels; ram; rostrum.
8. Typography. a serif on the arm of a character, as of a K.
9. Also called bird's beak. Archit. a pendant molding forming a drip, as on the soffit of a cornice.
10. Chiefly Brit. Slang.
a. a judge; magistrate.
b. a schoolmaster.
[1175-1225; ME bec < OF < L beccus < Gaulish]

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I
or bill

Stiff, projecting oral structure of birds and turtles (both of which lack teeth) and certain other animals (e.g., cephalopods and some insects, fishes, and mammals).

The term bill is preferred for the beak of a bird, composed of upper and lower jaws covered by a horny sheath of skin, with the nostrils on top, usually at the base. The shapes and sizes of bills are adapted for obtaining food, preening, building nests, and other functions; they range from the long, slim bill of nectar-sipping hummingbirds to the sturdy, curved, nut-cracking bill of parrots.
II
(as used in expressions)
Bill Max
Blass Bill
Bradley Bill
Brandt Bill
Canada Bill
Cosby Bill
Evans Bill
Gates Bill
Haley Bill
Hartack Bill
Hickok Wild Bill
Jones Bill T.
Monroe Bill
Robinson Bill
Russell Bill
Shoemaker Bill
Tilden Bill
Veeck Bill
Wade Davis Bill
Clinton Bill
ivory billed woodpecker

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also called  Bill,  

      stiff, projecting oral structure of certain animals. Beaks are present in a few invertebrates (e.g., cephalopods and some insects), some fishes and mammals, and all birds and turtles. Many dinosaurs were beaked. The term bill is preferred for the beak of a bird, platypus, or dinosaur. Many beaked animals, including all birds and turtles, lack teeth.

      A bird's bill is composed of the upper and lower jaws covered by a horny sheath of skin. The nostrils are found dorsally, usually at the base of the bill. Bills take many shapes and sizes, adapted for food-getting, preening, nest-building, and other functions. Feeding modifications alone include the pouched fish-netting bill of pelicans; the serrated grazing bill of geese; the long, slim nectar-sipping bill of hummingbirds; and the sturdy, curved nut-cracking bill of parrots.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • beak — beak; beak·horn; beak·ing; beak·iron; de·beak; gros·beak; beak·er; …   English syllables

  • Beak — (b[=e]k), n. [OE. bek, F. bec, fr. Celtic; cf. Gael. & Ir. bac, bacc, hook, W. bach.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) (a) The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny sheath, covering the jaws. The form varies much according to the food and habits of the bird …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • beak — (n.) mid 13c., bird s bill, from O.Fr. bec beak, figuratively mouth, also tip or point of a nose, a lance, a ship, a shoe, from L. beccus (Cf. It. becco, Sp. pico), said by Suetonius ( De vita Caesarum 18) to be of Gaulish origin, perhaps from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Beak|er — «BEE kuhr», noun. 1. a large cup or drinking glass with a wide mouth: »a full beaker of wine. SYNONYM(S): goblet. 2. a thin glass or metal cup used especially in laboratories. A beaker has a flat bottom, no handle, and often a small lip for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beak|er — «BEE kuhr», noun. 1. a large cup or drinking glass with a wide mouth: »a full beaker of wine. SYNONYM(S): goblet. 2. a thin glass or metal cup used especially in laboratories. A beaker has a flat bottom, no handle, and often a small lip for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • beak — [bi:k] n [Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: bec, from Latin beccus] 1.) the hard pointed mouth of a bird = ↑bill 2.) a large pointed nose used humorously 3.) BrE old fashioned a judge or a male teacher …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • beak — [ bik ] noun count * 1. ) the hard curved or pointed part of a bird s mouth 2. ) VERY INFORMAL a long pointed nose …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • beak — *bill, neb, nib …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • beak — [n] nose of animal bill, mandible, muzzle, neb, nib, nozzle, pecker, proboscis, projection, prow, snout; concept 392 …   New thesaurus

  • beak — ► NOUN 1) a bird s horny projecting jaws; a bill. 2) a projection at the prow of an ancient warship, used in attacking enemy ships. 3) Brit. informal a magistrate or schoolmaster. DERIVATIVES beaked adjective beaky adjective. ORIGIN Latin beccus …   English terms dictionary

  • beak — [bēk] n. [ME bek < OFr bec < L beccus < Gaul] 1. a bird s bill, esp. the large, sharp, horny bill of a bird of prey 2. a beaklike part or thing, as the protruding mouthpart of various insects, fishes, etc., or the spout of a pitcher 3.… …   English World dictionary

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