noun

1. a long, usually slender piece of wood; specif.,
   1. a twig or small branch broken off or cut off, esp. a dead and dry one
   2. a tree branch of any size, used for fuel, etc.
   3. a long, slender, and usually tapering piece of wood shaped for a specific purpose, as a wand, staff, club, baton, cane, rod, etc.
2. a stalk, as of celery
3. something shaped like a stick; sticklike piece a stick of chewing gum
4. a separate item; article every stick of furniture
5. an implement used for striking a ball, puck, etc. a hockey stick
6. something made of sticks, as a racing hurdle
7. a sticking, as with a pointed weapon; stab
8. anything, as a threat, used in compelling another
9. stick shift
10. a number of bombs, parachutists, etc. dropped from the air in such a way as to fall in a line across a target area
11. Archaic a stoppage, delay, or obstacle
12. Informal a dull, stupid, or spiritless person
13. ☆ Slang a marijuana cigarette
14. Aeron. joystick (sense )
15. Naut. a mast or a part of a mast
16. Printing a composing stick or its contents

Etymology: ME stikke < OE sticca, akin to Du stek, ON stik < IE base *steig-, a point > stake, Frank *stakka, Gr stigma, L instigare, instigate

transitive verb stuck, sticked, sticking stick′·ing

1. to pierce or puncture, as with a pointed instrument
2. to kill by piercing; stab
3. to pierce something with (a knife, pin, etc.)
4. to thrust or push (in, into, out, etc.) to stick one's finger into a hole
5. to set with piercing objects a cushion stuck with pins
6. 1. to fasten or attach as by gluing, pinning, etc. to stick a poster on a wall
   2. to decorate with things fastened in this way
7. 1. to transfix or impale
   2. to impale (insect specimens, etc.), as on a pin, and mount for exhibit
8. to obstruct, entangle, bog down, etc.; also, to detain, delay, etc.: usually used in the passive the wheels were stuck; we were stuck in town

9. Etymology: < stickthe

   1. to prop (a vine, etc.) with a stick or sticks
   2. Printing to set type in a composing stick
10. Informal to place; put; set
11. Informal to make sticky by smearing
12. Informal to puzzle; baffle to be stuck by a question
13. Slang
    1. to make pay, often exorbitantly
    2. to impose a disagreeable task, burden, expense, etc. upon
    3. to cheat or defraud
14. Chiefly Brit., Informal to endure or tolerate

Etymology: combination of ME steken, to prick, fasten (< OE stecan) & ME stikien < OE stician, to stick, stab, prick: both akin to the n.

intransitive verb

1. to be or remain fixed or embedded by a pointed end, as a nail, etc.
2. to be or remain attached by adhesion; adhere; cleave
3. 1. to remain in the same place; stay; abide they stick at home
   2. to remain fixed in the memory
   3. to remain in effect to make the charges stick
4. to remain in close association; be fixed; cling friends stick together; the nickname stuck
5. to keep close to stick to a trail
6. to persevere; persist to stick at a job
7. to remain firm and resolute; endure they stuck through thick and thin
8. to become fixed, blocked, lodged, etc. as by an obstacle; specif.,
   1. to become embedded and immovable a shoe stuck in the mud
   2. to become unworkable; jam the gears stuck
   3. to become stopped or delayed; come to a standstill a bill stuck in committee
9. to be puzzled
10. to be reluctant; hesitate; scruple a person who will stick at nothing
11. to protrude, project, or extend (out, up, through, etc.)