Definition of "perk" in English

noun

1. (informal) Perquisite.

   • Free coffee is one of the perks of the job.

2. (video games) A bonus ability that a player character can acquire; a permanent power-up.

verb

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

   • I’ll perk some coffee.

2. (intransitive, informal) Of coffee: to be produced by heated water seeping (“percolating”) through coffee grounds.

   • The coffee is perking.

noun

1. A percolator, particularly of coffee.

verb

1. (transitive) To make trim or smart; to straighten up; to erect; to make a jaunty or saucy display of.

2. (intransitive) To appear from below or behind something, emerge, pop up, poke out.

   • 1842, Robert Browning, “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” in Lyrics of Life, Boston: Ticknor & Fields, 1866, pp. 35-36, lines 152-153, […] suddenly up the face Of the Piper perked in the market-place,
   • 1937 Robert Byron, The Road to Oxiana, London: Macmillan, Part 4, “Kavar,” p. 159, A strong warm wind carried a sound of chopping with it and a rustle of dead plane-leaves; through those leaves perked the green crooks of young ferns.

3. (intransitive, obsolete) To exalt oneself; to bear oneself loftily.

   • 1574, Arthur Golding (translator), Sermons of Master John Calvin, upon the Booke of Job, London: Lucas Harison and George Byshop, Sermon 38, The first upon the tenth Chapter, For whereof commeth thys hypocrisie in the popedome, that men shall preache free will, merits, and satisfactions, and set vp their bristles in suche wise, and beare themselues in hande that they may come perking before God, yea and preace thither lyke shamelesse strumpets.

adjective

1. (obsolete) Smart; trim; spruce; jaunty; vain.

verb

1. (dated) To peer; to look narrowly, sharply, or inquisitively.

2. (dialectal) To examine thoroughly.

verb

1. (obsolete) To perch.