any of numerous wild or domesticated web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, esp. of the genus Anas and allied genera, characterized by abroad, flat bill, short legs, and depressed body.

the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male. Compare drake 1 .

the flesh of this bird, eaten as food.

Informal . person; individual

He's the queer old duck with the knee-length gaiters and walrus mustache.

a playing marble, esp. one that is not used as a shooter.

ducks, ( used with a singular verb ) British Slang . ducky 2 .

Cricket Slang .

failure of a batsman to score

to be out for a duck.

a player's score of zero

to be bowled for a duck. Compare goose egg

water off a duck's back

something that has little or no effect

Our criticisms of his talk rolled off him like water off a duck's back.

verb

face , jump , meet

verb

bend , bob , bow , crouch , dip , dive , dodge , double , elude , escape , evade , fence , lower , lurch , move to side , parry , plunge , shirk , shun , shy , sidestep , stoop , submerge , hedge , skirt , burke , bypass , circumvent , eschew , get around , douse , dunk , immerge , immerse , souse , submerse , avoid , blackjack , canard , cringe , dabbler , drake , duckling , eider , gadwall , mallard , mandarin , merganser , peking , pintail , scaup , shelduck , shoveler , smew , tal , teal , wigeon

noun

dip , dunk , swim