English

Alternative forms

• perq (less common)

Noun

perk ‎(plural perks)

1. (informal) Perquisite.

   Free coffee is one of the perks of the job.

Translations

Etymology 2

From percolate (verb) and percolator (noun), by abbreviation.

Verb

perk ‎(third-person singular simple present perks, present participle perking, simple past and past participle perked)

1. (transitive) To make (coffee) in a percolator or a drip coffeemaker.

   I’ll perk some coffee.

2. (intransitive) Of coffee: to be produced by heated water seeping (“percolating”) through coffee grounds.
   • 1996, Lewis, Sherry, This Montana Home, Harlequin Books, page 288:

     While the coffee perked, she flipped idly through a gardening magazine and scanned an article on the war against aphids.

   The coffee is perking.

Noun

perk ‎(plural perks)

1. A percolator, particularly of coffee.

Etymology 3

The origin is uncertain.

Verb

perk ‎(third-person singular simple present perks, present participle perking, simple past and past participle perked)

1. To become more lively or enthusiastic.
2. To exalt oneself; to bear oneself loftily.
   • Barrow

     to perk over them

3. To make trim or smart; to straighten up; to erect; to make a jaunty or saucy display of.

   to perk the ears; to perk up one's head

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Cowper to this entry?)

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Sherburne to this entry?)

Derived terms

• perk up
• perky

Adjective

perk ‎(comparative more perk, superlative most perk)

1. Smart; trim; spruce; jaunty; vain.
   • Spenser

     Perk as a peacock.

Etymology 4

The origin is uncertain.

Verb

perk ‎(third-person singular simple present perks, present participle perking, simple past and past participle perked)

1. (dated) To peer; to look inquisitively.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Charles Dickens to this entry?)

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɛrk/
• Rhymes: -ɛrk

Etymology

From Old Dutch *perrik, *parrik, from Proto-Germanic *parrukaz. Compare also park and German Pferch.

Noun

perk n ‎(plural perken, diminutive perkje n)

1. a delimited piece of ground, e.g. a flowerbed