perk1

[purk] /pɜrk/
verb (used without object)
1.
to become lively, cheerful, or vigorous, as after depression or sickness (usually followed by up):
The patients all perked up when we played the piano for them.
2.
to act, or carry oneself, in a jaunty manner.
3.
to put oneself forward briskly or presumptuously.
verb (used with object)
4.
to make smart, trim, or jaunty (sometimes followed by up or out):
to perk up a suit with a new white blouse.
5.
to raise smartly or briskly (often followed by up or out):
to perk one's head up.
adjective
6.
perky; jaunty:
a perk manner.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English perken; perhaps akin to peer2
Related forms
perkingly, adverb
perkish, adjective

perk2

[purk] /pɜrk/
verb (used without object), verb (used with object), Informal.
1.
to percolate:
Has the coffee perked yet? The research team is perking with new ideas.
Origin
1930-35, Americanism; by shortening and respelling of percolate

perk3

[purk] /pɜrk/
noun, Informal.
1.
perquisite.
Origin
1815-25; by shortening and respelling
Examples from the web for perk
  • But the biggest perk may come with the morning commute.
  • It points out the unspoken truth that being allowed to teach less is provided more as a perk than a necessity.
  • It takes only a few drops of true balsamic to perk up salads or cheeses or berries.
  • Wilted leaves often perk up if you cut off the damaged part of the stem and put it in water.
  • Living in an island paradise isn't the only perk to this job.
  • It's a taxable but otherwise free perk at my college.
  • However, other indicators suggest that the euro area economies are starting to perk up.
  • If someone in my neighborhood is playing ball, he will perk up and try to get it.
  • Washable slipcovers in lighthearted new fabrics perk up old upholstery.
  • Among those is a big perk for the world-traveling types, as well as a processor update for improved computing power.
British Dictionary definitions for perk

perk1

/pɜːk/
adjective
1.
pert; brisk; lively
verb
2.
See perk up
Word Origin
C16: see perk up

perk2

/pɜːk/
verb (informal)
1.
(intransitive) (of coffee) to percolate
2.
(transitive) to percolate (coffee)

perk3

/pɜːk/
noun
1.
(Brit, informal) short for perquisite
Word Origin and History for perk
v.

late 14c., "to make oneself trim or smart," perhaps from Old North French perquer "to perch" (Modern French percher; see perch (n.1)), on notion of a bird preening its plumage. Sense of "raise oneself briskly" is first attested 1520s; perk up "recover liveliness" is from 1650s. Related: Perked; perking.

n.

1869, shortened and altered form of perquisite (q.v.); as a verb, 1934 as shortened and altered form of percolate.

Slang definitions & phrases for perk

perk 1

noun

Percolated coffee (1950s+)

verb

To run smoothly and well; percolate: The project's perking now (1925+)


perk 2

noun

Extra money, privileges, fringe benefits, etc, pertaining to a job or assignment: His men were delighted to be in Afghanistan, he said, mostly because of the perks

[1824+; fr perquisite]


Related Abbreviations for perk

perk

perquisite