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

The debutant looked at home on the international stage, passing the ball well and flicking a header on to the crossbar in the second half.

Read more on BBC

Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want to know anymore about this popcorn flick than that.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Alexander-Arnold earned some redemption by his contribution to Madrid's equaliser, earning a corner and then whipping it in for Bellingham to flick into Huijsen's path to bash home.

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More will flick on the radio or TV on a freezing winter's night in the UK longing to be warmed by news from the other side of the planet.

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Turkey became the first team to score against Spain in qualifying just before the break when Gul levelled, reacting quickly to flick home a knock-down from a corner.

Read more on Barron's

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.