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Definition of perk up - 5 dictionary results
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perk

1  [purk]
Use perk up in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to become lively, cheerful, or vigorous, as after depression or sickness (usually fol. 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 fol. by up or out): to perk up a suit with a new white blouse.
5. to raise smartly or briskly (often fol. by up or out): to perk one's head up.
–adjective
6. perky; jaunty: a perk manner.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME perken; perh. akin to peer 2

Related forms:
perk⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
perkish, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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perk 1   (pûrk)   
v.   perked, perk·ing, perks

v.   intr.

  1. To stick up or jut out: dogs' ears that perk.

  2. To carry oneself in a lively and jaunty manner.

v.   tr.
To cause to stick up quickly: The dog perked its ears at the noise.
adj.  Perky.
Phrasal Verb(s):
perk up

  1. To regain or cause to regain one's good spirits or liveliness.

  2. To refresh the appearance of: New furniture and paint perked up the room.


[Possibly Middle English perken, to perch, from perk, rod, perch, probably from Medieval Latin perca and from Old French perche, perce, both from Latin pertica, rod; see perch1.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary
perk

  1. n.
    an extra financial benefit; a monetary inducement or reward. (From perquisite. See also benies.) : I don't get paid much, but the perks are good.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

perk  (v.)
c.1380, "to make oneself trim or smart," perhaps from O.N.Fr. perquer "to perch" (Fr. percher; see perch (1)), on notion of a bird preening its plumage. Sense of "raise oneself briskly" is first attested 1529; perk up "recover liveliness" is from 1656; the adj. perky was formed 1855 (first found in Tennyson).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

perk up

Restore to good spirits, liveliness, or good appearance, as in You're exhausted, but a cup of tea will perk you up, or The flowers perked up the whole room. [Mid-1600s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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