n. & v.
n. 1 a a light, sharp, quickly retracted blow with a whip etc. b the sudden release of a bent finger or thumb, esp. to propel a small object. 2 a sudden movement or jerk. 3 a quick turn of the wrist in playing games, esp. in throwing or striking a ball. 4 a slight, sharp sound. 5 Brit. colloq. a a cinema film. b (in pl.; prec. by the) the cinema.
v. 1 tr. (often foll. by away, off) strike or move with a flick (flicked the ash off his cigar; flicked away the dust). 2 tr. give a flick with (a whip, towel, etc.). 3 intr. make a flicking movement or sound. flick-knife a weapon with a blade that springs out from the handle when a button is pressed. flick through 1 turn over (cards, pages, etc.). 2 a turn over the pages etc. of, by a rapid movement of the fingers. b look cursorily through (a book etc.).
[ ME, imit. ]