lick

/lik/
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lick

The kitten licks a small bowl of milk.

Definition

  1. Verb:

    • To pass the tongue over something: To move the tongue across a surface, typically to taste, clean, or moisten it.
    • To defeat decisively: To overcome an opponent thoroughly in a competition or conflict.
    • (Of flames) To touch lightly and quickly: To move lightly over a surface, like flames.

  2. Noun:

    • An act of licking: A single movement of the tongue over something.
    • A small amount: A very small quantity of something, especially effort or work.
    • A short, rapid phrase in music: A short, improvised solo in jazz or rock music.
    • A place where animals go to lick salt: A natural deposit of salt that animals regularly visit.
Usage Examples

  • Verb:

    • The dog will lick your hand if you let it.
    • Our team managed to lick their rivals in the final match.
    • The flames began to lick at the wooden beams.

  • Noun:

    • The kitten gave the milk a quick lick.
    • He didn't put in a lick of work all day.
    • The guitarist played a cool blues lick.
    • Deer often gather at the salt lick.
Advanced Usage

  • "a lick of paint": A small amount of paint, often implying a superficial improvement.

    • The old room just needs a lick of paint to look new.

  • "lick one's wounds": To retreat and recover after a defeat or a bad experience.

    • After losing the election, the candidate went home to lick his wounds.

  • "at a fair lick": At a fast speed or pace.

    • The car was moving at a fair lick down the highway.
Variants and Related Words

  • Lickety-split (adverb): Very quickly.

    • The children ran lickety-split to the ice cream truck.

  • Lickings (noun, informal): A severe defeat.

    • The team took a real lickings in yesterday's game.
Synonyms
  • Verb (to pass tongue over): Lap, taste.
  • Verb (to defeat): Thrash, trounce, beat soundly.
  • Noun (small amount): Bit, speck, iota.
Related Phrasal Verbs / Phrases

  • Lick up: To consume or remove something by licking.

    • The cat licked up all the spilled cream.

  • Lick into shape: To improve or train someone or something until they are in good condition.

    • The new coach will lick the team into shape before the tournament.
Related Idioms

  • Lick and a promise: A quick and careless attempt at cleaning or doing a task.

    • I just gave the car a lick and a promise before the guests arrived.

  • Lick someone's boots: To behave in a servile way towards someone to gain favor.

    • He's always licking the boss's boots to get a promotion.
lick

The kitten licks a small bowl of milk.

Noun
  1. (boxing) a blow with the fist
    • I gave him a clout on his nose
  2. touching with the tongue
    • the dog's laps were warm and wet
  3. a salt deposit that animals regularly lick
Verb
  1. take up with the tongue
    • The cat lapped up the milk
    • the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast
  2. find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of
    • did you solve the problem?
    • Work out your problems with the boss
    • this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out
    • did you get it?
    • Did you get my meaning?
    • He could not work the math problem
  3. pass the tongue over
    • the dog licked her hand
  4. beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight
    • We licked the other team on Sunday!

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