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 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

The 20-year-old pulled a flick knife from his pocket with his left hand while eating an ice cream with his right.

Read more on BBC

He’s double-cast Luna and Tonatiuh as the film-within-a-film’s leads and changed the imaginary tale from a Nazi propaganda flick to a melodramatic but moving South American romance between a glamour queen and a noble photographer.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He said Franco called Ahmad back, and as he did he reached into his jogging bottoms and opened the blade on a flick knife that he was carrying in his pocket.

Read more on BBC

Draisaitl rushed the net with teammate Corey Perry and appeared to be sending a frantic one-handed pass Perry’s way when the puck flicked off a Panther and redirected into the net.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.