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.

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!