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lick
Lick is defined as to lightly touch the tongue to, move the tongue across or wet with the tongue.
(verb)- An example of lick is how you'd eat a soft serve ice cream in a cone.
- An example of lick is using your tongue to wet the back of a stamp.
The definition of a lick is a small amount.
(noun)An example of a lick is someone with very little common sense; a lick of common sense.
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See lick in Webster's New World College Dictionary
transitive verb
- to pass the tongue over: to lick one's lips
- to bring into a certain condition by passing the tongue over: to lick one's fingers clean
- to pass lightly over like a tongue: flames licking the logs
- Informal
- to whip; thrash
- to overcome, vanquish, or control
Origin: ME licken < OE liccian, akin to Ger lecken < IE base *leih-, 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
- the act of licking with the tongue
- a small quantity
- salt lick
- Informal
- a sharp blow
- a short, rapid burst of activity, often careless, as in cleaning up, etc.also lick and a promise
- a fast pace; spurt of speed; clip
- ☆ Slang a phrase of jazz music, esp. an interpolated improvisation
- Slang chance; turn: to get one's licks in
See lick in American Heritage Dictionary 4
verb licked, lick·ing, licks verb, transitive
- To pass the tongue over or along: lick a stamp.
- To lap up.
- To lap or flicker at like a tongue: The waves licked the sides of the boat.
- Slang To punish with a beating; thrash.
- Slang To get the better of; defeat: licked her weight problem.
To pass or lap quickly and rapidly: The flames licked at our feet.
noun- The act or process of licking.
- An amount obtained by licking: a lick of ice cream.
- A small quantity; a bit: hasn't got a lick of common sense.
- A deposit of exposed natural salt that is licked by passing animals.
- A sudden hard stroke; a blow.
- An attempt; a try.
- Informal Speed; pace: moving along at a good lick.
- Music A phrase improvised by a soloist, especially on the guitar or banjo.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English licken
Origin: , from Old English liccian; see leigh- in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- lickˈer noun
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