lick
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.
to make, or cause to become, by stroking with the tongue: to lick a spoon clean.
(of waves, flames, etc.) to pass or play lightly over: The flame licked the dry timber.
Informal.
to hit or beat, especially as a punishment; thrash; whip.
to overcome or defeat, as in a fight, game, or contest.
to outdo or surpass.
to move quickly or lightly.
a stroke of the tongue over something.
as much as can be taken up by one stroke of the tongue.
Informal.
a blow.
a brief, brisk burst of activity or energy.
a quick pace or clip; speed.
a small amount: I haven't done a lick of work all week.
Usually licks. a critical or complaining remark.
Usually licks. Jazz Slang. a musical phrase, as by a soloist in improvising.
lick up, to lap up; devour greedily.
Idioms about lick
last licks, a final turn or opportunity: We got in our last licks on the tennis court before the vacation ended.
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.
lick ass, Slang: Vulgar. kiss (def. 18).
lick into shape, Informal. to bring to completion or perfection through discipline, hard work, etc.: They needed another rehearsal to lick the production into shape.
lick one's chops. chop3 (def. 7).
lick one's wounds. wound1 (def. 6).
lick the dust. dust (def. 24).
Origin of lick
1Other words for lick
Other words from lick
- licker, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use lick in a sentence
There’s scant evidence that labels make a lick of difference to viewers.
Twitter and Facebook warning labels aren’t enough to save democracy | Geoffrey Fowler | November 9, 2020 | Washington PostWherever I gits throwed, there my rifle, and my matches, and my licker gits throwed too!
The Way of a Man | Emerson HoughHe sneeringly replied: "I pay fur my licker an' it's nun uf yer dam business how much I drink uf it."
Watch Yourself Go By | Al. G. FieldLh-shee, the Licker; a half-breed warrior, called Creek Billey.
It's a good idee to occasionally instruct the stummick that it mustn't depend excloosively on licker for its sustainance.
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward | Charles Farrar Browne (AKA Artemus Ward)
Consekens was, I presented myself at Betsy's bedside late at night with consid'ble licker concealed about my person.
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward | Charles Farrar Browne (AKA Artemus Ward)
British Dictionary definitions for lick
/ (lɪk) /
(tr) to pass the tongue over, esp in order to taste or consume
to flicker or move lightly over or round (something): the flames licked around the door
(tr) informal
to defeat or vanquish
to flog or thrash
to be or do much better than
lick into shape 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
lick one's lips to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish
lick one's wounds to retire after a defeat or setback in order to husband one's resources
lick the boots of See boot 1 (def. 14)
an instance of passing the tongue over something
a small amount: a lick of paint
Also called: salt lick a block of compressed salt or chemical matter provided for domestic animals to lick for medicinal and nutritional purposes
a place to which animals go to lick exposed natural deposits of salt
informal a hit; blow
slang a short musical phrase, usually on one instrument
informal speed; rate of movement: he was going at quite a lick when he hit it
a lick and a promise something hastily done, esp a hurried wash
Origin of lick
1Derived forms of lick
- licker, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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