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Glite Dictionary
lake duck

lake duck

1 7.4
A diving duck with a purplish head often seen in lakes
  • noun
  • /leɪk dʌk/
  • US
translation icon : pato de lago
  • On our birdwatching trip, we spotted a lake duck diving for food in the calm waters.

Examples

  • The lake duck, also known as the common scaup, is often found in North American lakes.

  • The Argentine lake duck has a penis as long as its body.

    The Last Kung Fu Monk (2010)

  • An Argentine lake duck has a penis as long as its body.

    The Last Kung Fu Monk (2010)

  • The male lake duck displays a striking purplish head during mating season.

Synonyms

scaup
vslake duck
1 9.9

A medium-sized diving duck with a blue-grey bill found in North America, Europe and Asia

is the specific North American species rather than the broader two-species group
Aythya marila
vslake duck
  • Specialized
9.9

A large diving duck found in North America and northern Eurasia whose males have a greenish shine on their heads

is the same species but described with a purplish male head
greater scaup
vslake duck
  • Specialized
8.4

A large North American diving duck whose male has a greenish head

refers to the same North American diving bird but notes a purplish male head
scaup duck
vslake duck
  • US
8.4

A diving duck from North America with a blue-grey bill that lives in lakes and near the sea

is the single species, not the general group found in various waters
bluebill
vslake duck
  • US
8.8

A North American diving duck with a bluish-grey bill

is the particular species rather than the informal name for multiple species

Surface Forms

lake duck singular
lake ducks plural

Morphology

lake + duck

The compound 'lake duck' is compositionally built from 'lake' + 'duck' and a B1 learner who knows those words will readily infer it denotes a duck associated with lakes (a duck that lives in or frequents lakes). Although the precise species name and distinguishing features are not predictable, the core referential meaning is transparent and follows a common noun–noun compounding pattern.

Etymology

The compound noun lake duck comes from a simple picture: a duck that lives on and dives in a lake to find food. So, people used that clear image to name the North American 'diving' duck we call a lake duck today.