# beek

> English word · Verb · frequency rank #58,542

## Definitions
1. To expose to a source of heat for warmth and pleasure.
2. To season by exposure to heat, usually used of wood.
3. To enjoy exposure to warmth; bask.

## Etymology
From Middle English beken (“to warm, expose to heat; keep oneself warm; season (wood) with heat”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps a northern variant of Middle English *bechen, from Old English *bēċan (“to foment”), from Proto-West Germanic *bōkijan (“to warm”), from Proto-Germanic *bōkijaną (“to warm”), causative of Proto-Germanic *bakaną (“to bake”). Cognate with Scots beke, beik (“to warm, bask”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/beek