English Dictionary
Definition of “lick”
lick (lɪk
)
Definitions
verb
- (tr) to pass the tongue over, esp in order to taste or consume
- to flicker or move lightly over or round (something) ⇒
the flames licked around the door
- (tr) informal
- to defeat or vanquish
- to flog or thrash
- to be or do much better than
- See lick into shape
- See lick one's lips
- See lick one's wounds
- See lick the boots of
noun
- an instance of passing the tongue over something
- a small amount ⇒
a lick of paint
- Also called salt licka block of compressed salt or chemical matter provided for domestic animals to lick for medicinal and nutritional purposes
- a place to which animals go to lick exposed natural deposits of salt
- informal a hit; blow
- slang a short musical phrase, usually on one instrument
- informal speed; rate of movement ⇒
he was going at quite a lick when he hit it
- See a lick and a promise
Alternative Forms
ˈlicker noun Word Origin
Old English liccian; related to Old High German leckon, Latin lingere, Greek leikhein
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
beat,
defeat,
overcome,
best,
top,
stuff,
tank,
undo,
rout,
excel,
surpass,
outstrip,
outdo,
trounce,
clobber,
vanquish,
run rings around,
wipe the floor with blow out of the water
Translations
- British English:
lick
When people or animals lick something, they move their tongue across its surface.She folded up her letter, licking the envelope flap.lɪk VERB She folded up her letter, licking the envelope flap.
- Spanish:
lamer
v
- French:
lécher
vt
- German:
lecken
v
- Chinese: 舔 v
- Arabic: يَلْحَسُ vt
- Portuguese: lamber v
- Russian: лизать v
- Croatian: lizati v
- Czech: olíznout v olizovat
- Danish: slikke v
- Dutch: likken v
- Finnish: nuolla v
- Greek: γλύφω v
- Italian: leccare v
- Japanese: なめる v
- Korean: 핥다 v
- Norwegian: slikke v
- Polish: polizać v lizać
- Brazilian Portuguese: lamber v
- European Spanish:
lamer
v
- Swedish: slicka v
- Thai: เลีย v
- Turkish: yalamak v
- Vietnamese: liếm v
Usage examples
He had thick eyebrows and a lick of dark hair over his eyes.
Hugo Wilcken, THE EXECUTION (2002)If she presses her butt down into the bed she's telling you to lick higher.
Maxim (2005)The designers, from a company called Danger, returned to the drawing board, evidently determined to lick these problems.
Globe and Mail (2004)The race for the title is nothing compared to the mad dash to lick the ground into shape.
Sun, News of the World (2001)Throw him a titbit of attention, Hugo had told Iris, he'll lick your hand.
Lide, Mary, Polmena Cove (1994)
