beck

CEFRC2

/ˈbɛk/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    a beckoning gesture.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A significant nod, or motion of the head or hand, especially as a call or command.

Examples

  • At the best hotels, there is always someone at your beck and call.

  • She has him at her beck and call.

At a glance

Sits at C2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. To nod or motion with the head.

  2. A stream or small river.

More examples

In context

  • […] the sky is blue, and the larks are singing, and the becks and brooks are all brim full.

  • […]Whence, climing to the Cleeves, her selfe she firmlie sets / The Bourns, the Brooks, the Becks, the Rills, the Rivilets[…]

  • Ah, knovv you not the Citie fauours them, And they haue troupes of Souldiers at their beck?

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The director gave a quick blank with his finger, beckoning the child to come closer.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English bek, bekk, becc, from Old English bæc, bec, bæċe, beċe (“beck, brook”), from Proto-Germanic *bakiz (“stream”). Cognate with Old Norse bekkr (“a stream or brook”), Low German bek, beck, German Bach, Dutch beek, Swedish bäck, Doublet of batch. More at beach.