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

See Examples For:

lick licks licked licking

“To be able to lick a few drops of water off a rusty pipe becomes a leg up somehow,” McManus said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

In making “Never Be the Same,” Thompson wanted to allow room for the “devastating moment,” a point in a song where something unexpected can happen, “that one lick where you just melt.”

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 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

"But the larger ants seemed to seek the attention of the smaller ants by first visiting their nests and then allowing the small ants to lick and nibble all over them."

From Science Daily ● Apr. 14, 2026

“Unremarkables don’t make a lick of sense. I didn’t come here to talk ’bout that.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

But he’s loyal and playful and licks your face when he’s feeling love.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

The New York City mayoral candidates got in their last licks Wednesday night at the final debate before the Nov. 4 election, with the three contenders taking jabs at their opponents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2025

And also, knowing that the challenges are going to come, and man, you're going to have to take your licks, you're going to have to take your licks.

From Salon ● Dec. 25, 2024

Diligent insect medics, with brains barely as big as the punctuation in size-8 font, were spotted carefully assessing the injuries of nestmates with a few gentle licks before operating with razor-sharp jaws.

From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2024

I don’t answer, so Bob licks my nose until I can’t stand it any longer.

From "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate

Ending work with his label and group, the rapper left for Europe where he made wine, licked his wounds and worked on music in isolation.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

Capybaras’ internet fame traces back at least to 2007, when Caplin Rous, a 6-week-old capybara, licked a camera.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

The pumpkin rice and peas, seasoned with thyme, from Dominica was a good complement to the Trinidadian curry shrimp, whose pot was licked clean.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

Smoke poured from the windows of the three-bedroom manufactured home as flames licked up the structure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026

The cub licked her hands, and she chuckled in delight.

From "Tiger Boy" by Mitali Perkins

The world number one has been left licking her wounds after a chastening 3-6 7-5 6-0 defeat by Russia's Diana Shnaider in the French Open quarter-finals.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

And the coming wave of mega-IPOs presents more risks than usual: Private investors are licking their chops at the prospect of cashing in on long-awaited gains.

From Barron's ● May 22, 2026

But instead of attacking, the smaller ants climb onto the bigger ones and begin licking and nibbling across their bodies.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 14, 2026

Lower rates would be welcome news for tech investors, who are still licking their wounds from the past week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026

He loved tasting snow cakes, and he loved licking icicle pops.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

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