n.
Pronunciation: ' s ə k
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English suken, from Old English s ū can; akin to Old High German s ū gan to suck, Latin sugere
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 a : to draw (as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue < suck ed milk from his mother's breast> b : to draw something from or consume by such movements < suck an orange> < suck a lollipop> c : to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid < suck ed his burned finger>
2 a : to draw by or as if by suction <when a receding wave suck s the sand from under your feet ― Kenneth Brower> <inadvertently suck ed into the ⋯ intrigue ― Martin Levin> b : to take in and consume by or as if by suction <a vacuum cleaner suck ing up dirt> < suck up a few beers> <opponents say that malls suck the life out of downtown areas ― Michael Knight>
intransitive verb
1 : to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force especially : to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth
2 : to make a sound or motion associated with or caused by suction <his pipe suck ed wetly> <flanks suck ed in and out, the long nose resting on his paws ― Virginia Woolf>
3 : to act in an obsequious manner <when they want votes ⋯ the candidates come suck ing around ― W. G. Hardy> ― usually used with up < suck ed up to the boss>
4 slang : to be objectionable or inadequate <our lifestyle suck s ― Playboy > <people who went said it suck ed ― H. S. Thompson>
– suck it up : to make the effort required to do or deal with something difficult or unpleasant