lick
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lick
(lĭk)v. licked, lick·ing, licks
v.tr.
1. To pass the tongue over or along: lick a stamp.
2. To lap up: The cat licked the milk from the bowl.
3. To lap or flicker at like a tongue: The waves licked the sides of the boat.
4. Slang
a. To beat or thrash.
b. To defeat soundly: licked their rivals in lacrosse.
c. To deal with effectively; overcome: licked her weight problem.
v.intr.
To pass or lap quickly and rapidly: The flames licked at our feet.
n.
Idioms: 1. The act or process of licking.
2. An amount obtained by licking: a lick of ice cream.
3. A small quantity; a bit: hasn't got a lick of common sense.
4. A deposit of exposed natural salt that is licked by passing animals.
5. Slang A sudden hard stroke; a blow.
6. Slang An attempt; a try: Why not give those skis a lick?
7. Informal Speed; pace: moving along at a good lick.
8. Music A phrase improvised by a soloist, especially on the guitar or banjo.
lick and a promise
A superficial effort made without care or enthusiasm.
lick into shape Informal
To bring into satisfactory condition or appearance.
lick (one's) chops
To anticipate delightedly.
lick (one's) wounds
To recuperate after a defeat.
lick (someone's) boots
To behave in a servile or obsequious manner toward someone.
lick′er n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lick
(lɪk)vb
1. (tr) to pass the tongue over, esp in order to taste or consume
2. to flicker or move lightly over or round (something): the flames licked around the door.
3. (tr) informal
a. to defeat or vanquish
b. to flog or thrash
c. to be or do much better than
4. lick into shape to put into a satisfactory condition: from the former belief that bear cubs were born formless and had to be licked into shape by their mother
5. lick one's lips to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish
6. lick one's wounds to retire after a defeat or setback in order to husband one's resources
7. lick the boots of See boot115
n
8. an instance of passing the tongue over something
9. a small amount: a lick of paint.
10. (Veterinary Science) Also called: salt lick a block of compressed salt or chemical matter provided for domestic animals to lick for medicinal and nutritional purposes
11. (Zoology) a place to which animals go to lick exposed natural deposits of salt
12. informal a hit; blow
13. (Music, other) slang a short musical phrase, usually on one instrument
14. informal speed; rate of movement: he was going at quite a lick when he hit it.
15. a lick and a promise something hastily done, esp a hurried wash
[Old English liccian; related to Old High German leckon, Latin lingere, Greek leikhein]
ˈlicker n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
lick
(lɪk)v.t.
1. to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often fol. by up, off, from, etc.): to lick a postage stamp; to lick an ice-cream cone.
2. to make, or cause to become, by stroking with the tongue: to lick a spoon clean.
3. (of waves, flames, etc.) to pass or play lightly over.
4. Informal.
v.i. a. to hit or beat, esp. as a punishment; thrash; whip.
b. to overcome or defeat, as in a fight, game, or contest.
5. to move quickly or lightly.
n. 6. a stroke of the tongue over something.
7. as much as can be taken up by one stroke of the tongue.
8. salt lick.
9. Informal.
a. a blow.
b. a brief, brisk burst of activity or energy.
c. a quick pace or clip; speed.
d. a small amount: I haven't done a lick of work all week.
10. Usu., licks. a critical or complaining remark.
11. Usu., licks. a musical phrase, as by a jazz soloist in improvising.
Idioms: 1. last licks, a final turn or opportunity.
2. lick into shape, Informal. to bring to completion or perfection through discipline, hard work, etc.
3. lick one's wounds, to attempt to heal or sooth oneself after injury or defeat.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English liccian, c. Old Saxon liccōn, Old High German leckōn]
lick′er, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
lick
Past participle: licked
Gerund: licking
| Imperative |
|---|
| lick |
| lick |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  lick - a salt deposit that animals regularly lick |
| 2. | lick - touching with the tongue; "the dog's laps were warm and wet" | |
| 3. |  lick - (boxing) a blow with the fist; "I gave him a clout on his nose"knockout punch, KO punch, Sunday punch, haymaker - a hard punch that renders the opponent unable to continue boxing hook - a short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent jab - a quick short straight punch rabbit punch - a short chopping blow to the back of the neck sucker punch - an unexpected punch blow - a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon; "a blow on the head" | |
| Verb | 1. |  lick - beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight; "We licked the other team on Sunday!" |
| 2. | lick - pass the tongue over; "the dog licked her hand" stroke - touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions; "He stroked his long beard" tongue - lick or explore with the tongue | |
| 3. | lick - find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem" understand - know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means" answer, resolve - understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered" riddle - explain a riddle strike - arrive at after reckoning, deliberating, and weighing; "strike a balance"; "strike a bargain" guess, infer - guess correctly; solve by guessing; "He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize" answer - give the correct answer or solution to; "answer a question"; "answer the riddle" break - find the solution or key to; "break the code" | |
| 4. | lick - take up with the tongue; "The cat lapped up the milk"; "the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
lick
verb
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
lick
verbnoun
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
لحسلَعْق، لَعْقَهمِقْدار قَليليَلْحَسُيَلْعَق
llepar
lízatlíznutíolíznoutpřetření
slikkesmuleslik
nuolla
lizatiliznuti
megnyalnyal
sleikjasletta, umferîòaî aî sleikja
なめる
핥다
brūkštelėjimaslaižytilyžtelėjimaspalaižymassuteikti tinkamą pavidalą
aplaizīšanaaplaizītlaizīšanalaizītlakšana
lízaťpretretie
lizanjelizati
slicka
เลีย
liếm
lick
[lɪk]A. VT
1. → lamer
flames were licking (at) the door → las llamas empezaron a lamer la puerta
to lick one's wounds (lit) → lamerse las heridas (fig) → curarse las heridas
to lick sb's boots → hacer la pelota or dar coba a algn
to lick sth into shape → poner algo a punto
flames were licking (at) the door → las llamas empezaron a lamer la puerta
to lick one's wounds (lit) → lamerse las heridas (fig) → curarse las heridas
to lick sb's boots → hacer la pelota or dar coba a algn
to lick sth into shape → poner algo a punto
2. (= defeat) → dar una paliza a
B. N
1. (with tongue) → lametazo m, lengüetada f
a lick and a promise → una lavada a la carrera or de cualquier manera
a lick and a promise → una lavada a la carrera or de cualquier manera
lick up VT + ADV → beber a lengüetadas
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
lick
[ˈlɪk] vt
(with tongue) → lécher
to lick one's fingers → se lécher les doigts
to lick one's lips (lit) → se lécher les lèvres (fig) (in anticipation of pleasure) → se lécher les babines; (at the prospect of food) → se pourlécher (les babines)
to lick one's wounds (fig) → panser ses blessures
to lick one's fingers → se lécher les doigts
to lick one's lips (lit) → se lécher les lèvres (fig) (in anticipation of pleasure) → se lécher les babines; (at the prospect of food) → se pourlécher (les babines)
to lick one's wounds (fig) → panser ses blessures
[flames] → lécher
(= defeat) [+ opponent] → écraser, battre à plate couture
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
lick
n
(with tongue) → Lecken nt, → Schlecken nt (dial); to give something a lick → an etw (dat) → lecken; the cat gave me/my hand a lick → die Katze leckte mich ab/mir die Hand
vt
(with tongue) → lecken; he licked the stamp → er leckte an der Briefmarke; he licked the ice cream → er leckte am Eis; to lick one’s lips → sich (dat) → die Lippen lecken; (fig) → sich (dat) → die Finger lecken; the cat licked its paws → die Katze leckte sich (dat) → die Pfoten; to lick the bowl out → die Schüssel auslecken; to lick one’s wounds (fig) → seine Wunden lecken; to lick somebody’s boots (fig) → vor jdm kriechen (inf), → jds Stiefel lecken; to lick somebody into shape (fig) → jdn auf Vordermann bringen (inf)
(waves) → plätschern an (+acc); (flames) → züngeln an (+dat)
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
lick
[lɪk]1. vt
a. (with tongue) → leccare; (subj, flames) → lambire
to lick one's plate clean → pulire il piatto con la lingua
to lick one's lips → leccarsi le labbra (hungrily) → leccarsi i baffi
to lick one's wounds (also) (fig) → leccarsi le ferite
to lick sb's boots (fig) (fam) → leccare i piedi a qn
to lick sth into shape (fig) (fam) → mettere a punto qc
to lick one's plate clean → pulire il piatto con la lingua
to lick one's lips → leccarsi le labbra (hungrily) → leccarsi i baffi
to lick one's wounds (also) (fig) → leccarsi le ferite
to lick sb's boots (fig) (fam) → leccare i piedi a qn
to lick sth into shape (fig) (fam) → mettere a punto qc
b. (fam) (defeat) → suonarle a, stracciare
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
lick
(lik) verb to pass the tongue over. The dog licked her hand.
noun1. an act of licking. The child gave the ice-cream a lick.
2. a hasty application (of paint). These doors could do with a lick of paint.
lick into shape to put into a better or more efficient form.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
lick
→ يَلْحَسُ olíznout slikke lecken γλύφω lamer nuolla lécher lizati leccare なめる 핥다 likken slikke polizać lamber лизать slicka เลีย yalamak liếm 舔Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
lick
vt. lamer; golpear,
pop. dar una tunda.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
lick
vt lamerEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.