n. 25B6; verb
the spaniel licked his face : pass one's tongue over, touch with one's tongue, tongue; lap, slurp.
flames licking round the coal : FLICKER, play, flit, dance.
(informal) they licked the home side 3-0. : See defeat verb sense 1.
(informal) the government have inflation licked : OVERCOME, get the better of, find an answer/solution to, conquer, beat, control, master, curb, check.
25B6; noun (informal)
a lick of paint : DAB, bit, drop, dash, spot, touch, splash; informal smidgen.
they ran up at a fair lick : SPEED, rate, pace, tempo; informal clip.