A beak is most commonly the hard, pointed mouth of a bird. The word can also be used informallyin casual speech, not in formal or technical language for a person’s nose, and in biologythe science that studies living things and their life processes for a beaklikehaving the shape or appearance of a bird’s pointed mouth tip or mouth in other animals and plants.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /biːk/
Easy pronunciation: BEEK (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable; stress is on the full word.
Noun meaning the hard, projecting mouth of a bird.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Beak Meaning
a bird’s mouth part
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the hard, projecting mouth of a bird
Example: The robin pecked at the crumbs with its small beak.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bill — Common, natural synonym for a bird’s beak.
- neb — Less common term for a bird’s beak.
- nib — Archaic or literary word for a bird’s beak.
- pecker — Can mean a bird’s beak, though it is less common and may sound informal.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Beak
Meaning 2
a person’s nose
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an informal word for the nose
Example: He bumped his beak on the doorframe.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- honker — Informal synonym for a nose.
- hooter — Informal synonym for a nose.
- nozzle — Informal synonym for a nose.
- schnoz — Informal synonym for a nose.
- schnozzle — Informal synonym for a nose.
- snoot — Informal synonym for a nose.
- snout — Can mean a nose in slang, though it also strongly suggests an animal’s snout.
Meaning 3
to strike or tap with a pecking motion
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to hit lightly with a picking motion
Example: The bird beaked at the seed on the ground.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- peck — Direct verb synonym for striking with small pecks.
- pick — Can fit in some contexts, but is less exact than peck.
Meaning 4
a pointed tip on a plant part
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a beaklike, tapering tip on certain plant structures
Example: The seed pod ended in a narrow beak.
Meaning 5
a beak-shaped mouth on some other animals
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the beaklike mouth of animals other than birds, such as turtles
Example: The turtle’s beak was strong and sharp for biting plants.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Beak Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bill
- neb
- nib
- pecker
an informal word for the nose
- honker
- hooter
- nozzle
- schnoz
- schnozzle
- snoot
- snout
to hit lightly with a picking motion
- peck
- pick
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using beak to mean a bird’s foot or claw.
- Using beak as a general synonym for any pointed object, even when the bird-like shape is not intended.
- Mixing up the noun meaning ‘nose’ with the verb meaning ‘to peck.’
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main meaning of beak?
The main meaning of beak is the hard mouth part of a bird.
Can beak mean nose?
Yes. In informal English, beak can mean a person’s nose.
What are common synonyms for beak?
For the bird meaning, common synonyms are bill, neb, nib, and pecker. For the nose meaning, common slang synonyms include honker, hooter, nozzle, schnoz, schnozzle, snoot, and snout.
Is beak ever a verb?
Yes. As a verb, beak can mean to hit lightly with a pecking motion.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
