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geek

n. · v.
US //ˈɡik// UK //ɡˈiːk// geek
  1. 1 an enthusiast (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    someone who is extremely interested in a particular subject and knows a lot about it.

    a person with an intense, often obsessive interest in a specific intellectual or technical niche.

    Example

    He is a total history geek and spends all his weekends at museums.

    Example

    While he was once mocked for being a computer geek, his deep technical knowledge eventually made him the most sought-after consultant in the firm.
  2. 2 socially awkward person (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    a person who is seen as boring or not popular because they like things that are not 'cool'.

    a person perceived as socially inept or unfashionable due to their unconventional interests.

    Example

    In high school, I felt like a geek because I preferred chess to football.

    Example

    The film explores the classic trope of the high school geek who eventually finds success by embracing their unique personality.
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  1. 3 to talk excitedly (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    to talk or act with a lot of excitement about a hobby or technical subject.

    to engage in or discuss a niche interest with intense enthusiasm; often used with 'out'.

    Example

    We spent the whole night geeking out over the new space photos.

    Example

    The two engineers spent the entire dinner party geeking out over the nuances of the new software architecture, much to the boredom of the other guests.

    Usage

    Often used as the phrasal verb 'geek out' followed by the preposition 'over'.
  2. 4 a look (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal Dialect British English

    a quick look at something.

    a brief look or glance at something.

    Example

    Have a geek at this photo I found in the attic.

    Example

    He took a quick geek at the engine to see if he could identify the source of the rattling sound.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is specific to Australian English and some UK dialects; learners should use 'look' or 'peek' in general contexts.
Etymology 1

Started as carnival slang, likely from the British dialectal term geck (“a fool, dupe, simpleton”) (1510s), apparently from Dutch gek or Low German geck, from an imitative verb found in North Sea Germanic and Scandinavian meaning "to croak, cackle," and also "to mock, cheat" (Dutch gekken, German gecken, Danish gække, Norwegian gakke, Swedish gäcka). The root still survives in the Dutch adjective noun gek (“crazy" or "crazy person”). Compare gink and also Old Norse gikkr (“a pert, rude person; jester; fool”).

Etymology 2

Probably related to keek. Compare German gucken (“look”), kieken (“look”) and the dialectal corruption of Dutch keek (“keek”) (from kijk (“look”)), kijken (“to look”). Australian use from Cornish dialect.

Word family

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