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duck

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

duck¹ / dək/ • n. (pl. same or ducks ) 1. a waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait. The duck family (Anatidae) also includes geese and swans, from which ducks are distinguished by their generally smaller size and shorter necks. ∎  the female of such a bird. Contrasted with drake¹ . ∎  such a bird as food. 2. a pure white thin-shelled bivalve mollusk (genus Anatina, family Mactridae) found off the Atlantic coasts of America. 3. another term for DUKW. PHRASES: get (or have) one's ducks in a row get (or have) one's facts straight; get (or have) everything organized. take to something like a duck to water take to something very readily: he took to the trumpet like a duck to water. water off a duck's back a potentially hurtful or harmful remark or incident that has no apparent effect on the person mentioned. duck² • v. 1. [intr.] lower the head or the body quickly to avoid a blow or so as not to be seen: spectators ducked for cover she ducked into the doorway to get out of the line of fire | [tr.] he ducked his head and entered. ∎  (duck out) depart quickly: I thought I saw you duck out. ∎  [tr.] avoid (a blow) by moving down quickly: he ducked a punch from an angry first baseman. ∎  [tr.] inf. evade or avoid (an unwelcome duty or undertaking): a responsibility which a less courageous man might well have ducked | [intr.] I was engaged twice and ducked out both times. 2. [intr.] plunge one's head or body under water briefly: I had to keep ducking down to get my head cool. 3. Bridge refrain from playing a winning card on a particular trick for tactical reasons. • n. [in sing.] a quick lowering of the head. DERIVATIVES: duck·er n. duck³ (also ducks) • n. Brit. dear; darling (used as an informal or affectionate form of address, esp. among cockneys). duck⁴ • n. a strong untwilled linen or cotton fabric, used chiefly for casual or work clothes and sails. ∎  (ducks) pants made of such a fabric. duck⁵ • n. Cricket a batsman's score of zero: out for a duck.

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© The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008.