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lick
[ lik ]
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.
- 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 phrase
- to lap up; devour greedily.
lick
/ ɪ /
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
- informal.tr
- to defeat or vanquish
- to flog or thrash
- to be or do much better than
- lick into shapeto 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 lipsto anticipate or recall something with glee or relish
- lick one's woundsto retire after a defeat or setback in order to husband one's resources
- lick the boots ofSee boot 1
noun
- an instance of passing the tongue over something
- a small amount
a lick of paint
- Also calledsalt 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 promisesomething hastily done, esp a hurried wash
Derived Forms
- ˈ, noun
Other 51Թ Forms
- noun
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of lick1
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of lick1
Idioms and Phrases
- 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. chop 3( def 7 ).
- lick one's wounds. wound 1( def 6 ).
- lick the dust. dust ( def 24 ).
Example Sentences
“There’s something sweet about the police having to pay Anthony after he had to take his licks from them.”
While Ryan was left licking her wounds once more, there are still big fights in prospect for a fighter who has proven she belongs at boxing's top level.
For two consecutive seasons, the top prospects were left licking their wounds from Sweet 16 exits.
Albanese was also left licking his wounds after a damaging campaign.
Neither has a lick of empathy, an indispensable trait in a great leader.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from 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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