# lick

Pronunciation: say "LIK" /lɪk/

## Verb

1. To pass the tongue over the surface of something.
   - Simple: To move your tongue across the surface of something.
   - _The cat will lick its fur for hours to stay clean._
   - _He licked the envelope before sealing it shut._
8. To take in liquid or food using the tongue, as an animal does.
   - Simple: To take up liquid or food with the tongue.
   - _The kitten licked the cream off its paws._
   - _Cattle lick salty water straight from the trough._
15. To wash or move against a surface in gentle, repeated motions, as waves or flames do.
   - Simple: To touch or wash against something gently, the way small waves do at the edge of water.
   - _Gentle waves lick the hull of the anchored boat._
   - _The tide licked at the base of the cliff as evening fell._
16. To do something only partially or in an incomplete way. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To do something only partly and not finish it properly.
   - _The painters licked the job and left half the trim untouched._
   - _If you only lick a repair like this, it has to be redone._
19. To perform oral sex on a woman, using the mouth and tongue on her genitals. *(slang)*
   - Simple: To give a woman oral sex using the mouth and tongue.
   - _He spent the morning licking her until she trembled._
   - _She guided his head lower so he could lick her._

## Noun

2. A single stroke or movement of the tongue across a surface.
   - Simple: A single movement of the tongue across something.
   - _A single lick of the ice cream cone left a streak of chocolate on her nose._
   - _The dog's friendly lick startled the toddler._
4. A short musical phrase or motif, especially one played on a guitar or other lead instrument.
   - Simple: A short, catchy piece of music played on an instrument.
   - _She worked out a catchy lick on her guitar during practice._
   - _The solo was stitched together from a few classic blues licks._
5. A stroke or blow struck against someone or something. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A hit or blow, often struck with the hand or a tool.
   - _The boxer landed a solid lick to his opponent's jaw._
   - _She took a few licks at the piñata before it finally broke._
6. A tiny amount of something; the least bit. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A very small amount of something.
   - _She didn't have a lick of patience left by noon._
   - _There wasn't a lick of evidence to support the accusation._
7. An attempt or try at doing something. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A try at doing something.
   - _Give the problem a lick before you ask anyone for help._
   - _He had a lick at writing poetry back in college._
9. A place where animals gather to lick salt or other minerals from the ground.
   - Simple: A spot where wild animals go to lick salt or minerals from the soil.
   - _A natural lick drew elk from miles around._
   - _The ranchers set out a salt lick in the pasture for the cattle._
10. The amount of a substance that can be taken up with a single stroke of the tongue.
   - Simple: How much of something you can get with one stroke of the tongue.
   - _A single lick of salt left a sharp taste on her tongue._
   - _Each lick of the ice pop melted almost instantly in the heat._
13. A quick and careless application of something, as if made with a single stroke of the tongue.
   - Simple: A quick, careless dab or coat of something.
   - _The dresser had received nothing more than a lick of varnish years ago._
   - _A lick of polish brought back some shine to the worn table._
14. A rate of speed, always paired with a describing word such as 'good' or 'fair.' *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: A speed something moves at, always used with a word like 'good' or 'fair.'
   - _The mail coach came up the road at a tremendous lick._
   - _We made the journey at a good lick and arrived before dark._
17. A chance to make money fast, usually by illegal means such as a robbery or drug deal; also the victim of such a crime.
   - Simple: A chance to get money fast, usually by breaking the law.
   - _The crew pulled off one last lick before they scattered._
   - _She hit a few licks that month just to cover rent._
18. A small watercourse or seasonal stream, larger than a rill but smaller than a full stream.
   - Simple: A very small stream, bigger than a tiny trickle but smaller than a normal stream.
   - _A narrow lick wound through the woods behind the farm._
   - _After the storm the lick ran fast and muddy for days._
20. An instance of oral sex performed on a woman. *(slang)*
   - Simple: An act of giving a woman oral sex.
   - _He treated her to a leisurely lick that left her breathless._
   - _A quick lick was all they had time for that morning._

## Verb

3. To beat someone thoroughly, especially in a fight or contest. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To beat someone badly in a fight or contest.
   - _The champion licked every challenger who stepped into the ring._
   - _Give me a fair chance and I'll lick him easily._
11. To beat someone soundly with repeated blows. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To beat someone with many blows, usually as a punishment.
   - _He swore he would lick any man who insulted his sister._
   - _The sergeant licked the recruits until they finally obeyed._
12. To defeat or get the better of an opponent, problem, or difficulty. *(dated)*
   - Simple: To beat or get past something difficult, such as a problem or an opponent.
   - _No rival could lick them on their home field._
   - _He licked the hardest puzzle in the book within minutes._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–16, 18–20** — From Middle English likken, from Old English liccian, tracing back through Proto-Germanic to the Proto-Indo-European root *leyǵʰ- ("to lick"). It has relatives in Dutch likken, German lecken, Latin lingō, and Greek leíkhō; how it came to mean "to hit" is unclear and has no parallel in other Germanic languages.
**Meaning 17** — A back-formation from hit a lick, ultimately derived from liquor.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/lick (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).