Beak
The beak, bill, or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds that is used for eating and for preening, manipulating objects, killing prey, fighting, probing for food, courtship and feeding young. The terms beak and rostrum are also used to refer to a similar mouth part in some dicynodonts, Ornithischians, cephalopods, cetaceans, billfishes, pufferfishes, turtles, Anuran tadpoles and sirens.
Although beaks vary significantly in size, shape, color and texture, they share a similar underlying structure. Two bony projections—the upper and lower mandibles—are covered with a thin keratinized layer of epidermis known as the rhamphotheca. In most species, two holes known as nares lead to the respiratory system.
Beak (noun)
Anatomical uses.
Beak (noun)
A similar structure forming the jaws of an octopus, turtle, etc.
Beak (noun)
The long projecting sucking mouth of some insects and other invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera.
Beak (noun)
The upper or projecting part of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve.
Beak (noun)
The prolongation of certain univalve shells containing the canal.
Beak (noun)
Figurative uses.
Beak (noun)
Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the fruit or other parts of a plant.
Beak (noun)
Anything projecting or ending in a point like a beak, such as a promontory of land.
Beak (noun)
A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.
Beak (noun)
A toe clip.
Beak (noun)
That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened to the stem, and supported by the main knee.
Beak (noun)
Colloquial uses.
Beak (noun)
A armed at the end with a metal head or point, and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, used as a ram to pierce the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.
Beak (noun)
The human nose, especially one that is large and pointed.
Beak (verb)
Seize with the beak.
Beak (verb)
To play truant.
Neb (noun)
A bird’s beak or bill.
Neb (noun)
A person’s mouth.
Neb (noun)
A person’s nose.
Neb (noun)
The peak of a flat cap.
Neb (noun)
The nose or snout of an animal, now especially of a fish.
Neb (noun)
A projecting extremity; a point or sharp projection.
Neb (noun)
A nib, as of a pen.
Beak (noun)
a bird’s horny projecting jaws; a bill
“a parent bird with a caterpillar in its beak”
Beak (noun)
the horny projecting jaw of animals other than birds, for example a turtle or squid.
Beak (noun)
a person’s nose
“she can’t wait to stick her beak in”
Beak (noun)
a projection at the prow of an ancient warship, typically shaped to resemble the head of a bird or other animal, used to pierce the hulls of enemy ships.
Beak (noun)
a magistrate or a schoolmaster.
Beak Illustrations
