flick

¹

[flik]

noun

1. a sudden light blow or tap, as with a whip or the finger.

   She gave the horse a flick with her riding crop.

2. the sound made by such a blow or tap.

3. a light and rapid movement.

   a flick of the wrist.

4. something thrown off with or as if with a jerk.

   a flick of mud.

verb (used with object)

1. to strike lightly with a whip, the finger, etc.

2. to remove with such a stroke.

   to flick away a crumb.

3. to move (something) with a sudden stroke or jerk.

verb (used without object)

1. to move with a jerk or jerks.

2. to flutter; flicker.

flick

²

[flik]

noun

Slang.

1. a motion picture; movie.

flick

¹

/ flɪk /

verb

1. (tr) to touch with or as if with the finger or hand in a quick jerky movement

2. (tr) to propel or remove by a quick jerky movement, usually of the fingers or hand

   to flick a piece of paper at someone

3. to move or cause to move quickly or jerkily

4. to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly or idly

5. to snap or click (the fingers) to produce a sharp sound

noun

1. a tap or quick stroke with the fingers, a whip, etc

2. the sound made by such a stroke

3. a fleck, streak, or particle

4. informal,  to dismiss someone from consideration

flick

²

/ flɪk /

noun

1. a cinema film

2. the cinema

   what's on at the flicks tonight?

Word History and Origins

Origin of flick¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English flykke; imitative

Origin of flick²

First recorded in 1925–30; shortening of flicker ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of flick¹

C15: of imitative origin; compare French flicflac

Example Sentences

She made her mark against Australia, flicking a header on to the crossbar in the second half and coming close on several occasions.

Read more on BBC

A spider can flick off irritating hairs from the backside of its abdomen, which feel like fiberglass or minute cactus spines.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Indeed, the good, cheap, unrespectable, unambitious variety of scare flick has mostly disappeared from the big screen.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"A time came for me when a switch was flicked, it was in the lead up to the Paris Games. I went through some health challenges, which, quite frankly, really rocked me mentally," she said.

Read more on Barron's

The Trojans drove 75 yards in 11 plays in barely six minutes, scoring to take the lead on a two-yard flick to a wide-open Ja’Kobi Lane.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flip 
• snap 
• tap 

When To Use

What does flick mean?

A flick is a light, rapid movement, as in With a flick of her wrist, the magician made the card disappear.A flick is also a sudden tap or light blow, as with a whip or a finger.To flick is to make such a motion.Flick is also a slang term for movie or film.Example: Flick that spider off the table, Tony.