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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Duck: Definition, Pronunciation, and Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：water bird (Duck)

Duck 🔊

/dʌk/

n., v.

A common water bird with a wide beak, short legs, and webbed feet for swimming, known for its "quack" sound.

Ducks swimming peacefully on a pond in nature scene

water bird 🔊

➕

/ˈwɔːtər bɜːrd/

n., v.

A common water bird with a wide beak, short legs, and webbed feet for swimming, known for its quack sound.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'duce' meaning diver, referring to its habit of diving underwater.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a duck suddenly lowering its head to dive—same motion as dodging a flying object.

📖 Example

We brought some bread to feed the ducks at the park's pond. 🔊 We brought some bread to feed the ducks at the park's pond.

🔗 Collocations

feed the ducks – give food to ducks, often in a park

duck pond – a small pond where ducks live

duck quack – the characteristic sound a duck makes

🔄 Synonyms

waterfowl (n.) – a bird that lives in or near water

mallard (n.) – a common type of wild duck

🌱 Derivatives

duckling (n.) – a young duck

duckweed (n.) – a tiny floating plant often found on duck ponds

📖 Cultural Story

The verb 'duck' originated in the 14th century from the noun, mimicking a duck's quick downward movement to dive. In politics, a 'lame duck' is an official whose term ends soon.

Meaning 2：dodge (Duck)

Duck 🔊

/dʌk/

n., v.

To quickly lower your head or body to avoid something that is coming towards you or to avoid being hit.

Person ducking to avoid a flying softball playfully

dodge 🔊

➕

/dɒdʒ/

n., v.

To quickly lower your head or body to avoid something that is coming towards you.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

He had to duck quickly to avoid the low-hanging branch while riding his bike. 🔊 He had to duck quickly to avoid the low-hanging branch while riding his bike.

🔗 Collocations

duck a ball – lower the head to avoid being hit by a ball

duck behind a wall – quickly move behind a wall for cover

duck out of the way – avoid something by moving aside

🔄 Synonyms

dodge (v.) – avoid something by a sudden movement

sidestep (v.) – step aside to avoid something

🚫 Antonyms

face (v.) – confront directly instead of avoiding

stand still (v. phrase) – remain in place without moving to avoid

🌱 Derivatives

ducking (v. (present participle)) – the act of lowering the head

ducked (v. (past tense)) – lowered the head to avoid