Word Study
suck
CIDE DICTIONARY
suck, v. t. [OE. suken, souken, AS. s, s; akin to D. zuigen, G. saugen, OHG. s, Icel. s, sj, Sw. suga, Dan. suge, L. sugere. Cf. Honeysuckle, Soak, Succulent, Suction.].
- To draw, as a liquid, by the action of the mouth and tongue, which tends to produce a vacuum, and causes the liquid to rush in by atmospheric pressure; to draw, or apply force to, by exhausting the air. [1913 Webster]
- To draw liquid from by the action of the mouth; as, to suck an orange; specifically, to draw milk from (the mother, the breast, etc.) with the mouth; as, the young of an animal sucks the mother, or dam; an infant sucks the breast. [1913 Webster]
- To draw in, or imbibe, by any process resembles sucking; to inhale; to absorb; as, to suck in air; the roots of plants suck water from the ground. [1913 Webster]
- To draw or drain. [1913 Webster]"Old ocean, sucked through the porous globe." [1913 Webster]
- To draw in, as a whirlpool; to swallow up. [1913 Webster]"As waters are by whirlpools sucked and drawn." [1913 Webster]
suck, v. i.
- To draw, or attempt to draw, something by suction, as with the mouth, or through a tube. [1913 Webster]"Where the bee sucks, there suck I." [1913 Webster]
- To draw milk from the breast or udder; as, a child, or the young of an animal, is first nourished by sucking. [1913 Webster]
- To draw in; to imbibe; to partake. [1913 Webster]"The crown had sucked too hard, and now, being full, was like to draw less." [1913 Webster]
- To be objectionable, of very poor quality, or offensive; as, telemarketing calls really suck; he's a good actor, but his singing sucks. [PJC]
suck, n.
- The act of drawing with the mouth. [1913 Webster]
- That which is drawn into the mouth by sucking; specifically, mikl drawn from the breast. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- A small draught. Massinger. [1913 Webster]
- Juice; succulence. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
suck, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. draw (a fluid) into the mouth by making a partial vacuum.
2 tr. (also absol.) a draw milk or other fluid from or through (the breast etc. or a container). b extract juice from (a fruit) by sucking.
3 tr. a draw sustenance, knowledge, or advantage from (a book etc.). b imbibe or gain (knowledge, advantage, etc.) as if by sucking.
4 tr. roll the tongue round (a sweet, teeth, one's thumb, etc.).
5 intr. make a sucking action or sound (sucking at his pipe).
6 intr. (of a pump etc.) make a gurgling or drawing sound.
7 tr. (usu. foll. by down, in) engulf, smother, or drown in a sucking movement.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of sucking, esp. the breast.
2 the drawing action or sound of a whirlpool etc.
3 (often foll. by of) a small draught of liquor.
4 (in pl.; esp. as int.) colloq. a an expression of disappointment. b an expression of derision or amusement at another's discomfiture.
--v.
1 tr. draw (a fluid) into the mouth by making a partial vacuum.
2 tr. (also absol.) a draw milk or other fluid from or through (the breast etc. or a container). b extract juice from (a fruit) by sucking.
3 tr. a draw sustenance, knowledge, or advantage from (a book etc.). b imbibe or gain (knowledge, advantage, etc.) as if by sucking.
4 tr. roll the tongue round (a sweet, teeth, one's thumb, etc.).
5 intr. make a sucking action or sound (sucking at his pipe).
6 intr. (of a pump etc.) make a gurgling or drawing sound.
7 tr. (usu. foll. by down, in) engulf, smother, or drown in a sucking movement.
--n.
1 the act or an instance of sucking, esp. the breast.
2 the drawing action or sound of a whirlpool etc.
3 (often foll. by of) a small draught of liquor.
4 (in pl.; esp. as int.) colloq. a an expression of disappointment. b an expression of derision or amusement at another's discomfiture.
Idiom
give suck archaic (of a mother, dam, etc.) suckle. suck dry
1 exhaust the contents of (a bottle, the breast, etc.) by sucking.
2 exhaust (a person's sympathy, resources, etc.) as if by sucking.
suck in
1 absorb.
2 = sense 7 of v.
3 involve (a person) in an activity etc. esp. against his or her will.
suck up
1 (often foll. by to) colloq. behave obsequiously esp. for one's own advantage.
2 absorb.
1 exhaust the contents of (a bottle, the breast, etc.) by sucking.
2 exhaust (a person's sympathy, resources, etc.) as if by sucking.
suck in
1 absorb.
2 = sense 7 of v.
3 involve (a person) in an activity etc. esp. against his or her will.
suck up
1 (often foll. by to) colloq. behave obsequiously esp. for one's own advantage.
2 absorb.
Etymology
OE sucan, = L sugere
THESAURUS
suck
apple-polisher, aspirate, aspiration, ass-licker, backscratcher, backslapper, beverage, bib, bleed, bootlick, bootlicker, booze, breathe in, broach, brown-nose, brownie, bumper, clawback, courtier, creature, cringer, decant, draft, draft off, drain, drain the cup, dram, draw, draw from, draw in, draw off, drench, drink, drink in, drink off, drink to, drink up, drop, dupe, empty, exhaust, fawner, flatterer, flunky, footlicker, gargle, groveler, gulp, guzzle, handshaker, helot, imbibe, inhalation, inhale, inhalement, inspiration, inspire, instrument, jackal, jigger, jolt, kowtower, lackey, lap, led captain, let, let blood, let out, libation, lickspit, lickspittle, mealymouth, milk, minion, nip, peg, peon, phlebotomize, pipette, pledge, portion, potation, potion, pull, pump, pump out, puppet, quaff, reptile, round, round of drinks, serf, shot, sip, siphon off, slave, slurp, sniff, sniffle, snifter, snort, snuff, snuff in, snuffle, spaniel, spot, stooge, suck in, suck out, sucking, suckle, suction, sup, swig, swill, sycophant, tap, timeserver, tipple, toad, toadeater, toady, toast, tool, toss down, toss off, tot, truckler, tufthunter, venesect, wash down, wet, yes-manROGET THESAURUS
suck
Ejection
VB give exit, give vent to, let out, give out, pour out, squeeze out, send out, dispatch, despatch, exhale, excern, excrete, embogue, secrete, secern, extravasate, shed, void, evacuation, emit, open the sluices, open the floodgates, turn on the tap, extrude, detrude, effuse, spend, expend, pour forth, squirt, spirt, spurt, spill, slop, perspire, breathe, blow, tap, draw off, bale out, lade out, let blood, broach, eject, reject, expel, discard, cut, send to coventry, boycott, chasser, banish, bounce, fire, fire out, throw, throw out, throw up, throw off, throw away, throw aside, push, throw out, throw off, throw away, throw aside, shovel out, shovel away, sweep out, sweep away, brush off, brush away, whisk off, whisk away, turn off, turn away, send off, send away, discharge, send adrift, turn adrift, cast adrift, turn out, bundle out, throw overboard, give the sack to, send packing, send about one's business, send to the right about, strike off the roll, turn out neck and heels, turn out head and shoulders, turn out neck and crop, pack off, send away with a flea in the ear, send to Jericho, bow out, show the door to, turn out of doors, turn out of house and home, evict, oust, unhouse, unkennel, dislodge, unpeople, dispeople, depopulate, relegate, deport, empty, drain to the dregs, sweep off, clear off, clear out, clear away, suck, draw off, clean out, make a clean sweep of, clear decks, purge, embowel, disbowel, disembowel, eviscerate, gut, unearth, root out, root up, averuncate, weed out, get out, eliminate, get rid of, do away with, shake off, exenterate, vomit, throw up, regurgitate, spew, puke, keck, retch, heave, upchuck, chuck up, barf, belch out, cast up, bring up, be sick, get sick, worship the porcelain god, disgorge, expectorate, clear the throat, hawk, spit, sputter, splutter, slobber, drivel, slaver, slabber, eructate, drool, unpack, unlade, unload, unship, offload, break bulk, dump, be let out, spew forth, erupt, ooze.Food
VB eat, feed, fare, devour, swallow, take, gulp, bolt, snap, fall to, despatch, dispatch, discuss, take down, get down, gulp down, lay in, tuck in, lick, pick, peck, gormandize, bite, champ, munch, cranch, craunch, crunch, chew, masticate, nibble, gnaw, mumble, live on, feed upon, batten upon, fatten upon, feast upon, browse, graze, crop, regale, carouse, eat heartily, do justice to, play a good knife and fork, banquet, break bread, break one's fast, breakfast, lunch, dine, take tea, sup, drink in, drink up, drink one's fill, quaff, sip, sup, suck, suck up, lap, swig, swill, chugalug, tipple, empty one's glass, drain the cup, toss off, toss one's glass, wash down, crack a bottle, wet one's whistle, purvey.For further exploring for "suck" in Webster Dictionary Online
