Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense licks, present participle licking, past tense, past participle licked
1. verb
When people or animals lick something, they move their tongue across its surface.
She folded up her letter, licking the envelope flap with relish. [VERB noun]
The dog rose awkwardly to his feet and licked the man's hand excitedly. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: taste, lap, tongue, touch More Synonyms of lick
Lick is also a noun.
Kevin wanted a lick of Sarah's lollipop. [+ of]
2. verb
If you lick someone or something, you easily defeat them in a fight or competition.
[informal]
He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight. [VERB noun]
The Chancellor's upbeat message that the Government had licked inflation for goodwas marred by more job losses. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: beat, defeat, overcome, best More Synonyms of lick
3. verb
When flames of a large fire lick somewhere or something, the fire begins to reach that place or thing and the flames touch it lightly and briefly.
[literary]
The fire sent its red tongues licking into the entrance hall. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The apex of the flames licked the crimson sky. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: flicker, touch, flick, dart More Synonyms of lick
4. countable noun [usually NOUNof noun]
A lickof something is a small amount of it.
[informal]
It could do with a lick of paint to brighten up its premises.
Synonyms: dab, little (bit), touch, taste More Synonyms of lick
5. countable noun
A lick is a short piece of music which is part of a song and is played on a guitar. A lick is also a short section in a piece of jazz, which the musician invents while they are playing.
[informal]
...the screeching licks of heavy metal guitar.
6. to lick your lips
7. to lick into shape
8. to lick your wounds
More Synonyms of lick
lick in British English
(lɪk)
verb
1. (transitive)
to pass the tongue over, esp in order to taste or consume
2.
to flicker or move lightly over or round (something)
the flames licked around the door
3. (transitive) informal
a.
to defeat or vanquish
b.
to flog or thrash
c.
to be or do much better than
4. lick into shape
5. lick one's lips
6. lick one's wounds
7. lick the boots of
noun
8.
an instance of passing the tongue over something
9.
a small amount
a lick of paint
10. Also called: salt lick
a block of compressed salt or chemical matter provided for domestic animals to lick for medicinal and nutritional purposes
11.
a place to which animals go to lick exposed natural deposits of salt
12. informal
a hit; blow
13. slang
a short musical phrase, usually on one instrument
14. informal
speed; rate of movement
he was going at quite a lick when he hit it
15. a lick and a promise
Derived forms
licker (ˈlicker)
noun
Word origin
Old English liccian; related to Old High German leckon, Latin lingere, Greek leikhein
lick in American English
(lɪk)
verb transitive
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
a.
to whip; thrash
b.
to overcome, vanquish, or control
verb intransitive
5.
to move lightly and quickly, as a flame
waves licking about her feet
noun
6.
the act of licking with the tongue
7.
a small quantity
8.
salt lick
9. Informal
a.
a sharp blow
b.
a short, rapid burst of activity, often careless, as in cleaning up, etc.
: also lick and a promise
c.
a fast pace; spurt of speed; clip
10. US, Slang
a phrase of jazz music, esp. an interpolated improvisation
11. [often pl.]; Slang
chance; turn
to get one's licks in
Idioms:
lick into shape
lick one's chops
lick up
Word origin
ME licken < OE liccian, akin to Ger lecken < IE base *leih-, to lick > Gr leichein, L ligurrire, to lick, lingere, to lick up
More idioms containing
lick
lick someone's boots
lick your lips
lick your wounds
In other languages
lick
British English: lick /lɪk/ VERB
When people or animals lick something, they move their tongue across its surface.
She folded up her letter, licking the envelope flap.