n.
Function: noun
Date: 1603
1 a : an act or instance of licking b : a small amount : BIT <couldn't swim a lick > c : a hasty careless effort
2 a : a sharp hit : BLOW b : a directed effort : CRACK ― usually used in plural ― usually used in the phrase get in one's licks
3 a : a natural salt deposit (as a salt spring) that animals lick b : a block of often medicated saline preparation given to livestock to lick
4 : a musical figure specifically : an interpolated and usually improvised figure or flourish
5 : a critical thrust : DIG , BARB
– lick and a promise : a perfunctory performance of a task