- 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 of lick
Middle English licken from Old English liccian, akin to German lecken from Indo-European base an unverified form lei?h-, to lick from source Classical Greek leichein, Classical Latin ligurrire, to lick, lingere, to lick up to move lightly and quickly, as a flame: waves licking about her feet
- the act or an instance 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
- [often pl.]Slang chance; turn: to get one's licks in
lick Idioms
lick into shape
Informal to bring into proper condition by careful, persistent work
Origin of lick
from an old belief that bear cubs were born formless and their parents had to shape them by licking themlick one's chops
Informal to anticipate something eagerly
lick one's wounds
to withdraw physically or emotionally after experiencing failure, humiliation, or disappointment, as to collect or console oneself
lick up
to consume as by licking or lapping
