beek

See also: Beek

English

Pronunciation

  • Audio (US):(file)

Etymology 1

From Middle English beken (to warm, expose to heat; keep oneself warm; season (wood) with heat), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a northern variant of Middle English *bechen, from Old English *bēċan (to foment), from Proto-West Germanic *bōkijan (to warm), from Proto-Germanic *bōkijaną (to warm), causative of Proto-Germanic *bakaną (to bake). Cognate with Scots beke, beik (to warm, bask).

Alternative forms

Verb

beek (third-person singular simple present beeks, present participle beeking, simple past and past participle beeked)

  1. (transitive, reflexive, Northern England) To expose to a source of heat for warmth and pleasure.
  2. (transitive, Northern England) To season by exposure to heat, usually used of wood.
  3. (intransitive, Northern England) To enjoy exposure to warmth; bask.

Etymology 2

Clipping of beekeeper.

Noun

beek (plural beeks)

  1. (informal) Clipping of beekeeper.

Afrikaans

Etymology

From Dutch beek, from Middle Dutch bēke, from Old Dutch beki, from Proto-Germanic *bakiz.

Pronunciation

  • Audio:(file)

Noun

beek (plural beke, diminutive bekie)

  1. (uncommon) brook

Basque

Noun

beek

  1. ergative plural of be

Dutch

Etymology

From Middle Dutch bēke, from Old Dutch beki, from Proto-Germanic *bakiz.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /beːk/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: beek
  • Rhymes: -eːk
  • Homophone: Beek

Noun

beek f (plural beken, diminutive beekje n)

  1. brook, creek (running waterway smaller than a river)

Derived terms

general
toponyms

Descendants

  • Afrikaans: beek