Hawk
/hɔːk/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a noun, a hawk is a medium to large bird that hunts other animals for food, especially small birds and mammals. Hawks have strong claws and very good eyesight to catch their prey. As a verb, hawk means to try to sell something, often by speaking loudly or moving around in busy places, like a street or market.
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See It in Action
Noun: A bird of prey with strong eyesight and hunting skills
- •The hawk soared above the trees searching for food.
- •Hawks can see their prey from very far away.
- •A hawk caught a mouse in the field.
Verb: To sell goods by calling out or moving around publicly
- •Street vendors hawk their products loudly to attract customers.
- •He hawked newspapers on the corner every morning.
- •The market sellers hawk fresh fruit to passersby.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "hawk" (noun) like "bird" (A1 word), but a special kind that hunts and flies very fast and sharp-eyed
- ✓Picture a bird flying high in the sky, looking down carefully to spot a small animal to catch
- ✓It's the feeling of being alert and focused, like when you watch carefully to not miss anything important
- ✓Sounds like "hawk" → imagine a loud "hawk!" call from a bird or a person shouting to sell something
- ✓In stories, hawks often show strength and sharpness, sometimes as a symbol of freedom or power
- ✓NOT like "dove" (a soft, peaceful bird), hawks are hunters and strong birds of prey
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "whisper" (quiet talk), "hawk" means speaking loudly to get attention when selling
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "sell quietly," hawking is active and public selling, often in busy places
Try Other Words
- •Peddle: to sell goods, often moving from place to place (Use when emphasizing moving around to sell)
- •Trade: to exchange or sell goods (Use in more formal or business contexts)
- •Bird of prey: a general term for hunting birds like hawks, eagles, falcons (Use when describing the type of bird)
- •Advertise: to tell people about goods to sell (Use when focusing on promotion rather than direct selling)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "hawk" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "hafoc," meaning a bird of prey
- •Historical development: Used since early English to describe strong hunting birds; later also used as a verb for loud selling
- •Modern usage: Still used for the bird and for selling loudly in public places, especially street vendors or sellers
Reflect & Connect
•How can the sharp eyesight of a hawk help you remember the meaning of the bird?
•Why do you think the word "hawk" is used for both a bird and selling loudly? What is the connection?
Fill in the blanks
1.The hawk flew high because it needed to ___ for food from far away.
2.Vendors hawk their goods loudly to ___ the attention of people passing by.
3.Unlike quiet sellers, hawkers often ___ their products in busy streets.
4.A hawk is different from a dove because it is a ___ bird that hunts.
5.When someone hawks newspapers, they usually ___ around a public place.
6.You can tell a hawk by its sharp eyes and ___ claws.
7.People hawk goods when they want to ___ customers quickly and loudly.