licking

[ lik-ing ]

/ ˈlɪk ɪŋ /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR licking ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Informal.

a beating or thrashing.
a reversal or disappointment; defeat or setback.

the act of a person or thing that licks.

Nearby words

lick the stuffing out of, lick-alike, licker-in, lickerish, lickety-split, licking, licking river, lickspittle, licorice, licorice stick, lictor

Origin of licking

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at lick, -ing¹

Related forms

non·lick·ing, adjective

Definition for licking (2 of 2)

lick

[ lik ]

/ lɪk /

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

to move quickly or lightly.

noun

a stroke of the tongue over something.

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

salt lick.

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.

Verb Phrases

lick up, to lap up; devour greedily.

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)

SYNONYMS FOR lick

9a thwack, thump, rap, slap, cuff, buffet.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lick ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

lick·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for licking

Tim Mathern, a longtime North Dakota state Senator came to the event thinking that it was “all about licking our wounds.”
The Left’s Answer to ALEC|Ben Jacobs|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Marabella, now licking her lollipop and tapping her foot, appears unfazed.
Even Grade School Kids Are Protesting the Garner Killing Now|Caitlin Dickson|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Democratic pundits had spent hours licking their wounds vowing comeuppance.
The Booze That Saved America|Kevin Bleyer|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Georgia Congressman Bob Barr warned that “the flames of hedonism . . . are licking at the very foundations of our society.”
Justice Kennedy Opened the Door to Same-Sex Marriage, Will He Walk Through Next?|Geoffrey R. Stone|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was pure good fortune that landed the Gathering in Licking County, a farm-strewn block of land east of Columbus.
A Report From the Misunderstood Gathering of the Juggalos|Steve Miller|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Licking up the curl, the flame gradually leaped from one piece of wood to another until the entire handful was ablaze.
Boy Scouts Mysterious Signal|G. Harvey Ralphson
Up till now they had faced being left behind, but this licking was too much.
Aladdin O'Brien|Gouverneur Morris
After the licking I went out in the yard and saw the sun in a puddle.
Mother|Maksim Gorky
Even Brigham was licking his lips and gazing at the town; and when the first bottle came out he took a long drink with the rest.
Bat Wing Bowles|Dane Coolidge
The next moment he had gobbled it up and was licking his lips in appreciation.
Followers of the Trail|Zoe Meyer

British Dictionary definitions for licking (1 of 2)

licking

/ (ˈlɪkɪŋ) /

noun informal

a beating

a defeat

British Dictionary definitions for licking (2 of 2)

lick

/ (lɪk) /

verb

(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)

noun

an instance of passing the tongue over something

a small amounta 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 movementhe was going at quite a lick when he hit it

a lick and a promise something hastily done, esp a hurried wash

Derived Forms

licker, noun

Word Origin for lick

Old English liccian; related to Old High German leckon, Latin lingere, Greek leikhein

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

licking

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of licking

Related forms

Definition for licking (2 of 2)

lick

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Verb Phrases

Origin of lick

SYNONYMS FOR lick

Related forms

Examples from the Web for licking

British Dictionary definitions for licking (1 of 2)

licking

noun informal

British Dictionary definitions for licking (2 of 2)

lick

verb

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for lick