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lick Definition

lick (lik)

transitive verb

  1. to pass the tongue over to lick one's lips
  2. to bring into a certain condition by passing the tongue over to lick one's fingers clean
  3. to pass lightly over like a tongue flames licking the logs
  4. Informal
    1. to whip; thrash
    2. to overcome, vanquish, or control

Etymology: ME licken < OE liccian, akin to Ger lecken < IE base *leih-, to lick > Gr leichein, L ligurrire, to lick, lingere, to lick up

intransitive verb

to move lightly and quickly, as a flame waves licking about her feet

noun

  1. the act of licking with the tongue
  2. a small quantity
  3. salt lick
  4. Informal
    1. a sharp blow
    2. a short, rapid burst of activity, often careless, as in cleaning up, etc.
    3. a fast pace; spurt of speed; clip
  5. ☆ Slang a phrase of jazz music, esp. an interpolated improvisation
  6. Slang chance; turn to get one's licks in

lick Idioms

lick into shape

Informal to bring into proper condition by careful, persistent work

lick one's chops

to anticipate eagerly

lick up

to consume as by licking or lapping

lick Synonyms

lick

v.

  1. To pass the tongue over

    kiss, lap, tongue, lap up, stroke, rub, touch, pass over, pass across, move over, gloss over, caress, wash, play, graze, brush, glance, sweep, tongue, ripple, fondle, soothe, tranquilize, calm, quiet.

  2. To play over; said of flames

    run over, shoot, rise and fall, advance, fluctuate, flutter, vibrate, fly to and fro, leap, waver, vacillate, quiver, tremble, palpitate, blaze; see also burn 1, dart 1, wave 3.

  3. *To beat

    whip, trim, thrash; see beat 2.

  4. *To defeat

    overcome, vanquish, frustrate; see defeat 1.

lick Usage Examples

Object

  • spoon: Romantic desserts Delectable desserts for sweet seduction are barely a streaked apron and a licked wooden spoon away from your delight...
  • stamp: Each time I lick a stamp I'm reminded of more than a couple of plush gigs.
  • lip: Children may require a bland ointment to break the cycle of sucking or licking the lips.
  • wound: Labor is arguably licking the deeper wound this weekend.
  • envelope: Press for Change volunteers spent a night stuffing and licking two thousand envelopes to notify our own supporter list.
  • flame: A red flame licked over the metal ring; it was a beautiful thing to see.

Preposition: into

  • shape: They'll take a lot of licking into shape!

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • clean: We had to get up at midday, and lick the crypt clean.

Adjective modifier

  • hot: Older brother Marco simply sizzles on guitar, holding you by the throat with his hot dynamic licks.
  • fresh: All I could do was watch the walls that begged for a fresh lick of paint.
  • fair: The Elbe is a flowing river, so we sped along at a fair lick.

Modifying Another Word

  • ass: That's not ass licking him, it is fact.
  • gently: Deep Red shifts closer beside me then leans over and licks gently at the shallow cuts on my throat.

Noun used with modifier

  • guitar: It's not often a guitar lick sounds this dirty.
  • salt: There are salt licks where hordes of animals gather.
  • clay: Day 2 Napo Early morning wake-up call to visit one of the best parrot clay licks in Ecuador.
  • mineral: The cows will also have access to a dry cow mineral lick.
  • bass: A slow 6/4 bass licks over ominous Pawn Hearts style shifting chords.
  • blue: As the double bass kicks in and the Harrison inflected guitars start to grind out catchy blues licks, something becomes abundantly clear.

Preposition: of

  • paint: With a lick of paint, the dog really starts to look the part.

Browse dictionary entries near lick

  1. ‹ licit
  2. ‹ Lichtenstein
  3. ‹ licht
  4. ‹ lichenology
  5. ‹ lichen
  6. ‹ lichee
  7. ‹ lich gate
  8. ‹ lich
  9. ‹ licentious
  10. ‹ licentiate
  1. lickerish ›
  2. lickety-split ›
  3. licking ›
  4. lickspittle ›
  5. licorice ›
  6. lictor ›
  7. lid ›
  8. lidar ›
  9. lidded ›
  10. lidless ›