I. ˈlik verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English licken, from Old English liccian; akin to Old Saxon likkon to lick, Old High German leckōn, Old Norse sleikja, Latin lingere, Greek leichein to lick, Sanskrit leḍhi, reḍhi he licks
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to draw or pass the tongue over
kept trying to lick his swollen lips with a dry tongue — Ray Duncan
a few of the reporters licked their pencils nervously — Time
lick a postage stamp
(2) : to flicker or play over like a tongue : lap
a brick wall perpetually licked by smoke — Andrew Buchanan
walked down to the sea where it licked the beach — Richard Sale
b. : to take into the mouth with or as if with the tongue : lap up
watched the cat lick the flecks of cream from the rim of the bowl
sauntered down the street licking ice-cream cones
2.
a. : to strike repeatedly especially as a punishment : beat , thrash
taken her to her pa and said if he didn't lick her, they would — Helen Eustis
b. : defeat , overcome : get the better of
if you lick me, you take what money I have — William Faulkner
when its road-building program is completed, it will lick one of its major problems — Mary R. Johnson
a man's not licked when he's got a wife like this — Caroline Slade
we've got the outfit to lick the wilderness — S.H.Adams
3. : to give a finished appearance to
carefully leveled, licked, snipped artificial lawns — John Muir †1914
intransitive verb
1. : to lap with the tongue or in the manner of a tongue
the surf licked at the seawall — Isa Glenn
2. : to dart like a tongue
the pain licked over … in short little spasms — Gordon Merrick
a huge puff of smoke-fringed flame filled the doorway, licking outward toward me — Ralph Ellison
3. : to move at top speed
rattled down the stony track as hard as he could lick — T.A.Browne
Synonyms: see conquer
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- lick into shape
- lick one's chops
- lick one's wounds
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a.
(1) : an act or instance of licking
a quick lick at the frosting bowl
(2) : an amount held on the tongue
the cat took a lick of milk
b.
(1) : a quick often careless application of something as if by a stroke of the tongue : a small amount of something seemingly so applied : the least bit : dab IV 2
ready, down to the last lick of paint — Mollie Panter-Downes
a lick of rain beat against the window — E.L.Thomas
how long have you known I can't read a lick — James Street
(2) : a trace of some characteristic or quality
has a faint lick of the charlatan about him
c. : something that darts like a tongue
the campfire played its little licks of light against a tree trunk — A.B.Guthrie
2.
a.
(1) : a sharp hit : blow
hit the board a hard lick with the blunt end of an ax — Bruce Siberts
(2) dialect Britain : whipping , beating — usually used in plural
he was ready to take his licks like a man
b. : an effective effort : crack 11, thrust — usually used in plural
treasure was often found in the last few licks with the pick and shovel — W.P.Webb
give the cameraman a chance to put in some heavy artistic licks — John McCarten
c. : the smallest effort or act especially of work : stroke
ain't had a lick of work since November — Edna Ferber
the truth is that neither … has ever done a lick — Hamilton Basso
3.
a.
(1) : a place where salt is found on the surface of the earth and wild animals resort to lick it up
(2) : a salt spring or a salt brook
b. : an artificial often medicated saline preparation given to sheep and cattle to lick
4. West : syrup , molasses
piles flapjacks before me up to my chin, with plenty of butter and lick — F.B.Gipson
5. in swing music : a musical figure ; specifically : an interpolated and usually improvised figure or flourish
6. : a strand of hair usually fixed neatly in place
slicking his dark hair … in immaculate shiny licks — John Phillips
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- lick and a promise