stick
1a branch or shoot of a tree or shrub that has been cut or broken off.
a relatively long and slender piece of wood.
a long piece of wood for use as fuel, in carpentry, etc.
a rod or wand.
a baton.
Chiefly British. a walking stick or cane.
a club or cudgel.
something that serves to goad or coerce: The threat of unemployment was the stick that kept the workers toiling overtime.: Compare carrot (def. 3).
a long, slender piece or part of anything: a stick of candy; sticks of celery.
any of four equal parts in a pound of butter or margarine.
Sports. an implement used to drive or propel a ball or puck, as a crosse or a hockey stick.
Aeronautics. a lever, usually with a handle, by which the longitudinal and lateral motions of an airplane are controlled.
Nautical. a mast or spar.
Printing. composing stick.
the sticks, Informal. any region distant from cities or towns, as rural districts; the country: Having lived in a large city all his life, he found it hard to adjust to the sticks.
Military.
a group of bombs so arranged as to be released in a row across a target.
the bomb load.
Informal. stick shift.
Slang. a marijuana cigarette.
Informal. an unenthusiastic or uninteresting person.
Informal. a portion of liquor, as brandy, added to a nonalcoholic drink.
to furnish (a plant, vine, etc.) with a stick or sticks in order to prop or support.
Printing. to set (type) in a composing stick.
Idioms about stick
short / dirty end of the stick, Slang. the least desirable assignment, decision, or part of an arrangement.
Origin of stick
1Other words from stick
- stickless, adjective
- sticklike, adjective
Words Nearby stick
Other definitions for stick (2 of 2)
to pierce or puncture with something pointed, as a pin, dagger, or spear; stab: to stick one's finger with a needle.
to kill by this means: to stick a pig.
to thrust (something pointed) in, into, through, etc.: to stick a needle into a pincushion.
to fasten in position by thrusting a point or end into something: to stick a peg in a pegboard.
to fasten in position by or as if by something thrust through: to stick a painting on the wall.
to put on or hold with something pointed; impale: to stick a marshmallow on a fork.
to decorate or furnish with things piercing the surface: to stick a cushion full of pins.
to furnish or adorn with things attached or set here and there: to stick shelves full of knickknacks.
to place upon a stick or pin for exhibit: to stick butterflies.
to thrust or poke into a place or position indicated: to stick one's head out of the window.
to place or set in a specified position; put: Stick the chair in the corner.
to fasten or attach by causing to adhere: to stick a stamp on a letter.
to bring to a standstill; render unable to proceed or go back (usually used in the passive): The car was stuck in the mud.
Carpentry. to start (a nail).
Ceramics. to join (pieces of partially hardened clay) together, using slip as an adhesive.
Chiefly British Informal. to tolerate; endure: He couldn't stick the job more than three days.
to confuse or puzzle; bewilder; perplex; nonplus: He was stuck by the very first problem on the test.
Informal. to impose something disagreeable upon (a person or persons), as a large bill or a difficult task: The committee persistently stuck him with fund collection.
Informal. to cheat.
Slang: Often Vulgar. to go to hell with: often used imperatively.
to have the point piercing or embedded in something: The arrow stuck in the tree.
to remain attached by adhesion.
to hold, cleave, or cling: The young rider stuck to the back of his terrified horse.
to remain persistently or permanently: a fact that sticks in the mind.
to remain firm, as in resolution, opinion, statement, or attachment; hold faithfully, as to a promise or bargain.
to keep or remain steadily or unremittingly, as to a task, undertaking, or the like: to stick to a job until it is finished.
to become fastened, hindered, checked, or stationary by some obstruction: Her zipper stuck halfway up.
to be at a standstill, as from difficulties: I'm stuck on this problem.
to be embarrassed or puzzled; hesitate or scruple (usually followed by at).
to be thrust or placed so as to extend, project, or protrude (usually followed by through, from, out, up, etc.).
a thrust with a pointed instrument; stab.
a stoppage or standstill.
something causing delay or difficulty.
the quality of adhering or of causing things to adhere.
something causing adhesion.
stick around, Informal. to wait in the vicinity; linger: If you had stuck around, you'd have seen the fireworks.
stick by / to to maintain one's attachment or loyalty to; remain faithful to: They vowed to stick by one another no matter what happened.
stick out, to extend; protrude: Stick out your tongue. Your shirttail is sticking out.
stick up, Informal. to rob, especially at gunpoint: A lone gunman stuck up the gas station.
stick up for, to speak in favor of; come to the defense of; support: She always sticks up for him, even though he doesn't deserve it.
Origin of stick
2synonym study For stick
Other words for stick
Other words from stick
- stick·a·ble, adjective
- stick·a·bil·i·ty, noun
- re·stick·a·ble, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use stick in a sentence
At 14 hives, the researchers used a balloon tied to a stick to chase off hornets, says Otis.
Honeybees fend off deadly hornets by decorating hives with poop | Asher Jones | January 19, 2021 | Science News For StudentsLet’s start with the stick vacuumVacuum cleaners these days come in all shapes and sizes and there are various aspects you might want to think about when working out which one you want.
If he had 10 plates spinning on sticks before, now he’s got 20.
Americans across the political spectrum fear what the Capitol attack portends | Annie Gowen, Jenna Johnson, Holly Bailey | January 12, 2021 | Washington PostIf crosspieces are in the right place, your toes should be covering the first stick you tied, and your heels should be covering the second stick you tied, for each shoe.
How to build snowshoes on the fly—and 4 other tips for surviving deep snow | By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor Life | January 5, 2021 | Popular-ScienceThis guy’s charging at them, with a knife in one hand, a stick in the other, screaming at them, in a confined space.
“Nobody” Hurt, “Just a Perp,” Say Officers After NYPD Shot and Killed Man in His Own Home | by Eric Umansky | January 4, 2021 | ProPublica
Added to drinking water at concentrations of around one part per million, fluoride ions stick to dental plaque.
He wore white gloves, a dignified long black coat, and matching pants and vest, and he carried a dark walking stick.
The Black Man Who Replaced Jefferson Davis in the Senate | Philip Dray | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter some animated debate at the conference, Lelaie declared, with some frustration, “If you push on the stick, you will fly.”
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly? | Clive Irving | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe birds poop all over the forest, and thanks to the viscin, the mistletoe seeds in said poop stick to branches.
And for Larry Flynt, this might be a monumental opportunity to stick it to the dictator the best way he knows how.
Kim Jong Un, Avert Your Eyes: Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Gets the Porn Parody Treatment | Aurora Snow | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYou see, they always butter their chairs so that they won't stick fast when they sit down.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylWhoever succeeded in getting the ring on his stick won the game, and carried the prize home as a sign of victory.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. PikeBy using his walking stick he discovered that they formed a trail to a point in the wall.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeI am not informed further; but inasmuch as you are living on the place, my advice is that you stick right there, and hold it.
The Homesteader | Oscar MicheauxThe last time I tried it, I caught the end of my stick between two rocks and it broke.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson Lloyd
British Dictionary definitions for stick (1 of 2)
/ (stɪk) /
a small thin branch of a tree
any long thin piece of wood
such a piece of wood having a characteristic shape for a special purpose: a walking stick; a hockey stick
a baton, wand, staff, or rod
an object or piece shaped like a stick: a stick of celery; a stick of dynamite
See control stick
informal the lever used to change gear in a motor vehicle
nautical a mast or yard
printing See composing stick
a group of bombs arranged to fall at intervals across a target
a number of paratroops jumping in sequence
slang
verbal abuse, criticism: I got some stick for that blunder
physical power, force (esp in the phrase give it some stick)
(usually plural) a piece of furniture: these few sticks are all I have
(plural) informal a rural area considered remote or backward (esp in the phrase in the sticks)
(plural) Canadian West coast and Northwestern Canadian informal the wooded interior part of the country
(plural) hockey a declaration made by the umpire if a player's stick is above the shoulders
(plural) goalposts
US obsolete a cannabis cigarette
a means of coercion
informal a dull boring person
(usually preceded by old) informal a familiar name for a person: not a bad old stick
in a cleft stick in a difficult position
wrong end of the stick a complete misunderstanding of a situation, explanation, etc
to support (a plant) with sticks; stake
Origin of stick
1British Dictionary definitions for stick (2 of 2)
/ (stɪk) /
(tr) to pierce or stab with or as if with something pointed
to thrust or push (a sharp or pointed object) or (of a sharp or pointed object) to be pushed into or through another object
(tr) to fasten in position by pushing or forcing a point into something: to stick a peg in a hole
(tr) to fasten in position by or as if by pins, nails, etc: to stick a picture on the wall
(tr) to transfix or impale on a pointed object
(tr) to cover with objects piercing or set in the surface
(when intr, foll by out, up, through, etc) to put forward or be put forward; protrude or cause to protrude: to stick one's head out of the window
(tr) informal to place or put in a specified position: stick your coat on this chair
to fasten or be fastened by or as if by an adhesive substance: stick the pages together; they won't stick
(tr) informal to cause to become sticky
(when tr, usually passive) to come or cause to come to a standstill: we were stuck for hours in a traffic jam; the wheels stuck
(intr) to remain for a long time: the memory sticks in my mind
(tr) slang, mainly British to tolerate; abide: I can't stick that man
(intr) to be reluctant
(tr; usually passive) informal to cause to be at a loss; baffle, puzzle, or confuse: I was totally stuck for an answer
(tr) slang to force or impose something unpleasant on: they stuck me with the bill for lunch
(tr) to kill by piercing or stabbing
stick in one's throat or stick in one's craw informal to be difficult, or against one's conscience, for one to accept, utter, or believe
stick one's nose into See nose (def. 17)
stick to the ribs informal (of food) to be hearty and satisfying
the state or condition of adhering
informal a substance causing adhesion
obsolete something that causes delay or stoppage
Origin of stick
2- See also stick around, stick at, stick by, stick down, stick out, stick to, stick together, stick-up, stick with, stuck
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with stick
In addition to the idioms beginning with stick
- stick around
- stick at
- stick by
- stick in one's craw
- stick it
- stick it to someone
- stick one's neck out
- stick out
- stick to
- stick together
- stick to one's guns
- stick to one's last
- stick to the ribs
- stick up
- stick up for
- stick with
- sticky fingers
also see:
- carrot and stick
- get on the stick
- make stick
- more than one can shake a stick at
- short end of the stick
- stand (stick) up for
- wrong end of the stick
Also see understuck.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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