duck
- Top 3000
Sense 1
- noun
- A2
A water bird with a wide flat beak, short legs and feet made for swimming, often kept on farms for its eggs and meat.
Two ducks were swimming slowly across the cold grey pond.
The ducks waddled up the muddy bank and shook their wings.
Roast duck with red cabbage is on the menu today.
Common collocations: wild duck · a flock of ducks · feed the ducks · roast duck · duck eggs
Part of: Animals, Meat and fish
Sense 2 · less common
- verb
- B1
To move your head or body down very quickly, so that something does not hit you or so that nobody sees you.
He ducked just in time as the ball flew past.
She ducked under the low branch and walked on.
I ducked behind a parked van so they wouldn't see me.
Common collocations: duck down · duck under · duck behind · duck out of the way · duck your head
Part of: Exercise and fitness
Sense 3 · less common
- verb
- C1
To avoid dealing with a difficult question or duty instead of facing it.
The minister ducked every question about the rising prices.
You can't keep ducking the issue for another year.
Common collocations: duck the question · duck the issue · duck responsibility · duck a decision
Part of: Speaking, Attitudes and opinions
Forms
- plural
- ducks