Main Difference
The main difference between Duck and Swan is that the Duck is a common name for many species in the bird family Anatidae which go QUAB and Swan is a large water bird.
-
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the waterfowl family Anatidae, which also includes swans and geese. Ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the family Anatidae; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species) but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, mostly smaller than the swans and geese, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water.
Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons or divers, grebes, gallinules, and coots.
-
Swan
Swans are birds of the family Anatidae within the genus Cygnus. The swans’ closest relatives include the geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six or seven living (and one extinct) species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition, there is another species known as the coscoroba swan, although this species is no longer considered one of the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, although “divorce” sometimes occurs, particularly following nesting failure, and if a mate dies, the remaining swan will take up with another. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.
-
Duck (verb)
To quickly lower the head or body in order to prevent it from being struck by something.
-
Duck (verb)
To quickly lower (the head) in order to prevent it from being struck by something.
-
Duck (verb)
To lower (something) into water; to thrust or plunge under liquid and suddenly withdraw.
-
Duck (verb)
To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to plunge one’s head into water or other liquid.
-
Duck (verb)
To bow.
-
Duck (verb)
To evade doing something.
-
Duck (verb)
To lower the volume of (a sound) so that other sounds in the mix can be heard more clearly.
-
Duck (verb)
To enter a place for a short moment.
“I’m just going to duck into the loo for a minute, can you hold my bag?”
-
Duck (noun)
An aquatic bird of the family Anatidae, having a flat bill and webbed feet.
-
Duck (noun)
Specifically, an adult female duck; contrasted with drake and with duckling.
-
Duck (noun)
The flesh of a duck used as food.
-
Duck (noun)
A batsman’s score of zero after getting out. (short for duck’s egg, since the digit “0” is round like an egg.)
-
Duck (noun)
A playing card with the rank of two.
-
Duck (noun)
A partly-flooded cave passage with limited air space.
-
Duck (noun)
A building intentionally constructed in the shape of an everyday object to which it is related.
“A luncheonette in the shape of a coffee cup is particularly conspicuous, as is intended of an architectural duck or folly.”
-
Duck (noun)
A shot at with another marble (the shooter) in children’s games.
-
Duck (noun)
A cairn used to mark a trail.
-
Duck (noun)
One of the weights used to hold a spline in place for the purpose of drawing a curve.
-
Duck (noun)
A tightly-woven cotton fabric used as sailcloth.
-
Duck (noun)
Trousers made of such material.
-
Duck (noun)
A term of endearment; pet; darling.
“And hold-fast is the only dog, my duck (William Shakespeare – The Life of King Henry the Fifth, Act 2, Scene 3).”
-
Duck (noun)
Dear, mate (informal way of addressing a friend or stranger).
“Ay up duck, ow’a’tha?”
-
Swan (noun)
Any of various species of large, long-necked waterfowl, of genus Cygnus (bird family: Anatidae), most of which have white plumage.
-
Swan (noun)
One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.
-
Swan (noun)
This bird used as a heraldic charge, sometimes with a crown around its neck (e. g. the arms of Buckinghamshire).
-
Swan (verb)
To travel or move about in an aimless, idle, or pretentiously casual way.
-
Swan (verb)
To declare (chiefly in first-person present constructions).
-
Duck (noun)
a waterbird with a broad blunt bill, short legs, webbed feet, and a waddling gait.
-
Duck (noun)
a female duck.
-
Duck (noun)
a duck as food
“a tangy stew of duck, lamb, and sausage”
-
Duck (noun)
a pure white thin-shelled bivalve mollusc found off the Atlantic coasts of America.
-
Duck (noun)
an amphibious transport vehicle
“visitors can board an amphibious duck to explore the city”
-
Duck (noun)
a quick lowering of the head.
-
Duck (noun)
dear; darling (used as an informal or affectionate form of address, especially among cockneys)
“where’ve yer been, ducks!”
“it’s time you changed, my duck”
-
Duck (noun)
a strong linen or cotton fabric, used chiefly for work clothes and sails
“cotton duck”
-
Duck (noun)
trousers made of duck.
-
Duck (noun)
a batsman’s score of nought
“he was out for a duck”
-
Duck (verb)
lower the head or the body quickly to avoid a blow or missile or so as not to be seen
“spectators ducked for cover”
“he ducked his head and entered”
-
Duck (verb)
depart quickly
“I thought I saw you duck out”
-
Duck (verb)
avoid (a blow or missile) by moving quickly
“he ducked a punch from an angry first baseman”
-
Duck (verb)
evade or avoid (an unwelcome duty or undertaking)
“a responsibility which a less courageous man might well have ducked”
“I was engaged twice and ducked out both times”
-
Duck (verb)
push or plunge (someone) under water, either playfully or as a punishment
“Rufus grabbed him from behind to duck him under the surface”
-
Duck (verb)
refrain from playing a winning card on a particular trick for tactical reasons
“declarer ducked the opening spade lead”
-
Swan (noun)
a large waterbird with a long flexible neck, short legs, webbed feet, a broad bill, and typically all-white plumage.
-
Swan (verb)
move about or go somewhere in a casual, irresponsible, or ostentatious way
“swanning around Europe nowadays are we?”