Kick Definition

kĭk
kicked, kicking, kicks
verb
kicked, kicking, kicks
To strike out with the foot or feet, as in anger, or in swimming, dancing, etc.
Webster's New World
To score or gain ground by kicking a ball.
American Heritage
To punt in football.
American Heritage
To make or force (one's way, etc.) by kicking.
Webster's New World
To bounce or ricochet, often in a way that is unexpected or seemingly erratic.
His tee shot kicked off to the right.
Webster's New World
Antonyms:
noun
kicks
A blow with or thrust of the foot.
Webster's New World
A method of kicking.
Webster's New World
The motion of the legs that propels the body in swimming.
American Heritage
Any of various moves in dance in which the leg is extended from the body.
American Heritage
A sudden, sharp thrust or jolt, as the recoil of a gun when fired.
Webster's New World
idiom
kick ass
  • To take forceful or harsh measures to achieve an objective.
American Heritage
kick the bucket
  • To die.
American Heritage
kick the habit
  • To free oneself of an addiction, as to narcotics or cigarettes.
American Heritage
kick up (one's) heels
  • To cast off one's inhibitions and have a good time.
American Heritage
kick upstairs
  • To promote to a higher yet less desirable position.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Kick

Noun

Singular:
kick
Plural:
kicks

Origin of Kick

  • From Middle English kiken (“to strike out with the foot”), probably from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaik-, *kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kī-, *kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyǝ- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English kiken perhaps of Scandinavian origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Shortening of kick the bucket

    From Wiktionary

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