lick

American  

[lik] / lɪk /

verb (used with object)

licks, present (3rd person singular) licked, past participle, past licking present participle

1. to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often followed by up, off, from, etc.).

   to lick a postage stamp; to lick an ice-cream cone.

2. to make, or cause to become, by stroking with the tongue.

   to lick a spoon clean.

3. (of waves, flames, etc.) to pass or play lightly over.

   The flame licked the dry timber.

4. Informal.

   1. to hit or beat, especially as a punishment; thrash; whip.

   2. to overcome or defeat, as in a fight, game, or contest.

   3. to outdo or surpass.

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verb (used without object)

licks, present (3rd person singular) licked, past participle, past licking present participle

1. to move quickly or lightly.

noun

licks plural

1. a stroke of the tongue over something.

2. as much as can be taken up by one stroke of the tongue.

3. salt lick.

4. Informal.

   1. a blow.

   2. a brief, brisk burst of activity or energy.

   3. a quick pace or clip; speed.

   4. a small amount.

      I haven't done a lick of work all week.

5. Usually licks. a critical or complaining remark.

6. Jazz Slang. Usually licks. a musical phrase, as by a soloist in improvising.

verb phrase

1. lick up to lap up; devour greedily.

idioms

1. lick into shape, to bring to completion or perfection through discipline, hard work, etc..

   They needed another rehearsal to lick the production into shape.

2. lick one's chops. chop.

3. lick ass, kiss.

4. lick and a promise, a hasty and perfunctory performance in doing something.

   I didn't have time to clean thoroughly, so I gave the room a lick and a promise.

5. last licks, a final turn or opportunity.

   We got in our last licks on the tennis court before the vacation ended.

6. lick the dust. dust.

7. lick one's wounds. wound.

lick British  

/ lɪk /

verb

1. (tr) to pass the tongue over, esp in order to taste or consume

2. to flicker or move lightly over or round (something)

   the flames licked around the door

3. informal (tr)

   1. to defeat or vanquish

   2. to flog or thrash

   3. to be or do much better than

4. to put into a satisfactory condition: from the former belief that bear cubs were born formless and had to be licked into shape by their mother

5. to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish

6. to retire after a defeat or setback in order to husband one's resources

7. See boot 1

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noun

1. an instance of passing the tongue over something

2. a small amount

   a lick of paint

3. Also called: salt lick.  a block of compressed salt or chemical matter provided for domestic animals to lick for medicinal and nutritional purposes

4. a place to which animals go to lick exposed natural deposits of salt

5. informal a hit; blow

6. slang a short musical phrase, usually on one instrument

7. informal speed; rate of movement

   he was going at quite a lick when he hit it

8. something hastily done, esp a hurried wash

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• licker
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• licks
  plural

Participles

• licking
  present
• licked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• lick
  simple
• licks
  simple
• have licked
  perfect
• has licked
  perfect
• am licking
  progressive
• are licking
  progressive
• is licking
  progressive
• have been licking
  perfect progressive
• has been licking
  perfect progressive

Past

• licked
  simple
• had licked
  perfect
• was licking
  progressive
• were licking
  progressive
• had been licking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will lick
  simple
• will have licked
  perfect
• will be licking
  progressive
• will have been licking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of lick

before 1000; Middle English; Old English liccian, cognate with Old Saxon liccōn, Old High German leckōn; akin to Go bilaigon, Latin lingere, Greek leíchein to lick (up)

Explanation

To lick is to taste or touch with the tongue. When your dog licks you, he's saying hello. Humans should opt for waving hello over licking. Animal mothers lick their babies to clean them, and adult cats also groom themselves this way. People generally lick things to taste them: you might lick an ice cream cone or a lollipop, or lick salt off your arm after a day at the beach. Colloquially, to lick an opponent is to beat them at a game or fight. In jazz music, a lick is a short burst of music, or a solo.

Example Sentences

Other houses were given a free lick of paint to spruce them up ahead of the arrival of the heads of state of 32 nations, including US President Donald Trump, the Sozcu newspaper reported.

From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026

His low-stakes collaborative album with Partynextdoor last year suggested he might just lick his wounds and blow right past it.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026

The cone ants used their tongue-like mouthparts to lick the harvester ants' bodies, even reaching inside their open jaws.

From Science Daily • Apr. 14, 2026

Until high school, I didn’t speak a lick of any language other than English — save for some rudimentary Spanish counting and what little of Spanish and French that kids pick up through the media.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

I had to lick my lips—my mouth had suddenly gone dry.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Related Words

• caress
• fondle
• graze
• rub
• soothe
• wash