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.

duck Worldwide waterfowl, related to the swan and goose. Most nest in cool areas and migrate to warm areas in winter. All have large bills, short legs and webbed feet. Their colour is varied, and dense plumage is underlaid by down and waterproof feathers. There are two groups: dabbling ducks, which feed from the surface, and diving ducks. All eat seeds, insects, crustacea and molluscs. Most engage in complex courtship, and lay a large clutch of eggs. There are seven tribes: eiders, shelducks, dabbling ducks, perching ducks, pochards, sea ducks and stiff-tailed ducks. There are c.200 species. Length: 30–60cm (1–2ft); weight: to 7.2kg (16lb). Family Anatidae.

duck Wild duck or wildfowl; Anas spp.; mallard is A. platyrhynchos. A 150‐g portion is a rich source of protein, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₁₂, niacin, and copper; a good source of iron and zinc; a source of vitamin B₆; contains 15 g of fat, of which one‐third is saturated; supplies 200 kcal (840 kJ).

duck 2 plunge into liquid, trans. and intr. XIV; stoop quickly XVI. ME. douke, dūke, repr. OE. *dūcan = MLG., MDu. dūken (Du. duiken), OHG. tūhhan (G. tauchen), corr. to forms with a short vowel in MHG. tücken stoop quickly, G. ducken (with LG. initial cons.). The short vowel is evidenced XVI.

duck2 duck and cover in the US, take action to protect oneself from danger, especially where such action is likely to prove completely inadequate; with reference to a civil-defence slogan used in the US c.1950.
duck and dive use one's ingenuity to deal with or evade a situation.