LICK

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old English liccian; akin to Old High German leckōn to ~, Latin lingere, Greek leichein Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to draw the tongue over , to f~er over like a tongue, to take into the mouth with the tongue ; lap , 2. to strike repeatedly ; thrash , to get the better of ; overcome , defeat , intransitive verb to lap with or as if with the tongue, to dart like a tongue , II. noun Date: 1603 1. an act or instance of ~ing, a small amount ; bit , a hasty careless effort, 2. a sharp hit ; blow , a directed effort ; crack , 3. a natural salt deposit (as a salt spring) that animals ~, a block of often medicated saline preparation given to livestock to ~, a musical figure, a critical thrust ; dig , barb