I. ˈkik verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English kiken
intransitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to thrust out the foot or feet with force : strike out with the foot or feet (as in defense or bad temper or in effecting a swimming stroke) ; especially : to give impetus to something with a usually fast blow with the foot
(2) : thrust , drive
the bomber's engines kick with a 350,000-pound thrust
b. : to have a habit of kicking
the horse kicks when men approach him with a saddle
the boy kicks when he gets into fights
c. : to execute a kick in dancing
d. : to try to score or gain ground in a game of football by kicking the ball
e. : to engage in small annoying or harassing tactics
kicking at neighboring countries to distract their own people from internal problems
2.
a. : to show opposition : rebel
tends to kick against authority
b. : to express discontent : complain
had studied very little and so had no reason to kick about low grades
3. slang : die — compare kick in , kick off
4. of a firearm : to recoil when fired — often used with back
5.
a. of a cricket pitch : to cause a bowled ball to rebound erratically
b. of a bowled ball in cricket : to rebound erratically — often used with up
6. : to function with vitality and energy
still alive and kicking at 75 years
continue to flourish and … wax fat and kick — Dock Leaves
7.
a. : to move or go erratically or jerkily as if being kicked
an engine that kicked a good deal when it was started in cold weather
the jumping jack kicked about on the floor until it ran down
b. : to move from one to another of or stay or rest in various successive places as circumstance or whim dictates
an old chair that kicked around the house for years
during winters kicked about Florida, and other warm areas
transitive verb
1.
a. : to strike, thrust, or hit with the foot usually with force
b. : to strike usually suddenly with force as if kicking
c. : to impel or drive as if by kicking ; specifically : to cause (a railroad car) to be carried by momentum to a particular track position by uncoupling while still moving
d. : to cause (a racehorse or racing car) to show a sudden burst of speed
kicked his car into the lead — Newsweek
2. : to score (a goal or point) by kicking the ball in a game of football
3. chiefly dialect : to refuse (a person) after an invitation or an offer of marriage : jilt
took to drink after being kicked in favor of a rival
4. slang : to heap reproaches upon (oneself)
kicked himself every time he thought of the lost opportunity
5. : raise 17a
6. slang : to free oneself of or break (a drug habit)
Synonyms: see object
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- kick against the pricks
- kick downstairs
- kick one's heels
- kick over the traces
- kick the beam
- kick the bucket
- kick up one's heels
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : an act of kicking : a blow or sudden forceful thrust with the foot and especially the toe
felt the kick so strongly that a pain shot up his leg
specifically : a sudden propelling (as of a ball) with a blow of the foot especially in football — see dropkick , free kick , place-kick
b. : a forceful thrust or sudden drive
the engine drove the car ahead in a series of kicks
c. : a vigorous elevation of a leg (as in dancing)
a high kick and then a pirouette
d. : the power to kick : degree of force in kicking
e. : a rhythmic often forceful motion of the legs used alone or in conjunction with arm movements to propel a swimmer through the water
f. : a burst of speed or the ability to exhibit a burst of speed in racing especially as unleashed in the last part of a race
2. slang Britain : sixpence
3. archaic slang : the latest fashion or style
4.
a. : a sudden forceful jolt, jerk, jog, or thrust suggesting a kick
felt the sudden kick of the drill in his hand as the power was turned on
a noticeable upward kick in the barograph trace — G.H.T.Kimble
specifically : the recoil of a gun
b. : an electrical impulse or the deflection on a meter that records it
c. : a single automatic operation of a business machine
5. slang : dismissal , discharge ; specifically : a dishonorable discharge from the armed forces
the maximum penalty is … a year and a kick — F.B.Wiener
— compare : boot III 8b
6. slang : pocket , pocketbook
without a dime in his kick for a cup of coffee
7. chiefly Britain : kicker 1b
not a powerful kick , he is very accurate — Len Smith
8. : an indentation at the bottom of a molded glass bottle to lessen its holding capacity
9. chiefly Britain : a projection on a stock board or brick mold for forming a frog in the brick ; also : the frog so formed
10.
a. : a feeling of opposition or objection
had a kick against the new schedule
b. : an expression of opposition or objection
heard all sorts of kicks against the administration
c. : the grounds for objection
trying to find out what the kick was
11.
a. : a quick and forcible effect suggestive of a kick; as
(1) : the effect or force of an explosive when exploded
the high-test gasoline had quite a kick
(2) : a marked physical effect (as of stimulation by alcohol)
got a quick kick out of drinking
also : ability to produce such an effect
a drink with no kick in it
b.
(1) : a feeling of pleasure or of marked enjoyment : thrill
get a kick out of that music
(2) : a source of such pleasure
the play had a dramatic kick that made it very successful
c. kicks plural , slang : pleasure , thrills, fun
playing for kicks, not money
d. slang : way of getting one's pleasure or livelihood : manner or style of behaving or performing
the band is on a Dixieland kick
went on a mystery-reading kick — Time
12. : a sudden and striking surprise, revelation, or turn of events : twist
the novel ended with an ironical kick
13. slang : raise
a demand for a salary kick — Pete Martin
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- kick in the pants
- kick in the teeth
III. verb
intransitive verb
: to run at a faster speed during the last part of a race
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- kick ass
- kick butt