Word Study
lick
CIDE DICTIONARY
lick, v. t. [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likk, D. likken, OHG. lecch, G. lecken, Goth. bi-laig, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei`chein , Skr. lih, rih. Lecher, Relish.].
- To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand. Addison. [1913 Webster]
- To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk. Shak. [1913 Webster]
- A stroke of the tongue in licking. Dryden. [1913 Webster]
- A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a tongue; as, to put on colors with a lick of the brush. Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied. [1913 Webster]"A lick of court whitewash." [1913 Webster]
- A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs. Called also
salt lick . [1913 Webster]
lick, v. t. [Cf. OSw. lägga to place, strike, prick.].
To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter. Carlyle. Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
lick, n.
A slap; a quick stroke. Dryden. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
lick, v. & n.
--v.tr. & intr.
1 tr. pass the tongue over, esp. to taste, moisten, or (of animals) clean.
2 tr. bring into a specified condition or position by licking (licked it all up; licked it clean).
3 a tr. (of a flame, waves, etc.) touch; play lightly over. b intr. move gently or caressingly.
4 colloq. a defeat, excel. b surpass the comprehension of (has got me licked).
5 colloq. thrash.
--n.
1 an act of licking with the tongue.
2 = salt-lick.
3 colloq. a fast pace (at a lick; at full lick).
4 colloq. a a small amount, quick treatment with (foll. by of: a lick of paint). b a quick wash.
5 a smart blow with a stick etc.
--v.tr. & intr.
1 tr. pass the tongue over, esp. to taste, moisten, or (of animals) clean.
2 tr. bring into a specified condition or position by licking (licked it all up; licked it clean).
3 a tr. (of a flame, waves, etc.) touch; play lightly over. b intr. move gently or caressingly.
4 colloq. a defeat, excel. b surpass the comprehension of (has got me licked).
5 colloq. thrash.
--n.
1 an act of licking with the tongue.
2 = salt-lick.
3 colloq. a fast pace (at a lick; at full lick).
4 colloq. a a small amount, quick treatment with (foll. by of: a lick of paint). b a quick wash.
5 a smart blow with a stick etc.
Idiom
a lick and a promise colloq. a hasty performance of a task, esp. of washing oneself. lick a person's boots (or shoes) toady; be servile. lick into shape see SHAPE. lick one's lips (or chops)
1 look forward with relish.
2 show one's satisfaction. lick one's wounds be in retirement after defeat.
1 look forward with relish.
2 show one's satisfaction. lick one's wounds be in retirement after defeat.
Derivative
licker n. (also in comb.).
Etymology
OE liccian f. WG
THESAURUS
lick
addle, amaze, approach, assay, attempt, baffle, bamboozle, bang, bash, bat, bear the palm, beat, beat all hollow, beat hollow, beating, belt, best, bid, biff, bite, blow, boggle, bonk, breath, brush, buffalo, cadenza, career, caress, cast, chop, clip, clobber, clout, clump, confound, conk, conquer, contact, crack, cut, cutaneous sense, dash, daze, defeat, destroy, dig, dint, dirty work, do in, donkeywork, down, dress down, drub, drubbing, drudgery, drumming, effort, employment, endeavor, essay, experiment, extempore, fag, fatigue, feel, feeling, fingertip caress, fix, flax, flick, fling, floor, flourish, fuddle, fusillade, gait, gambit, get, give a dressing-down, glance, gleam, go, graze, grind, hand-mindedness, handiwork, handwork, hide, hint, hit, hors de combat, hot lick, hurdle, idea, impromptu, improvisation, industry, interpolation, intimation, jab, keep in suspense, kiss, knock, labor, lambaste, lambency, lap, lap up, larrup, lather, leather, lick of work, light touch, look, manual labor, master, maze, moil, mouth, move, muddle, mystify, nonplus, offer, outclass, outdo, outfight, outgeneral, outmaneuver, outpoint, outrun, outsail, outshine, overwhelm, pace, paddle, pelt, perplex, plunk, poke, pound, progress, punch, put, puzzle, rap, rat race, rate, riff, rub, ruin, scintilla, scut work, sense of touch, settle, shade, shadow, shellac, shot, sip, skin, skin alive, slam, slavery, slog, slug, slurp, smack, smash, smattering, smear, smell, smother, soak up, sock, soupcon, spadework, spark, sponge up, sprinkling, stab, step, stick, stride, stroke, stroke of work, strong bid, stump, suggestion, sup, surmount, suspicion, swat, sweat, swing, swipe, tactile sense, taction, take the cake, tan, tap, task, taste, tattoo, tentative, tentative poke, thought, thrash, throw, thump, thwack, tincture, tinge, tiresome work, toil, tongue, touch, trace, travail, travel, tread, treadmill, trial, trial and error, trim, triumph, triumph over, trounce, try, undertaking, undo, vamp, wallop, welt, whack, whale, whiff, whip, whisper, whop, win, wipe, work, worst, yerkROGET THESAURUS
lick
Success
VB succeed, be successful, gain one's end, gain one's ends, crown with success, gain a point, attain a point, carry a point, secure a point, win a point, win an object, get there, manage to, contrive to, accomplish, do wonders, work wonders, make a go of it, come off well, come off successful, come off with flying colors, make short work of, take by storm, carry by storm, bear away the bell, win one's wings, win one's spurs, win the battle, win the day, carry the day, gain the day, gain the prize, gain the palm, have the best of it, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's owns hands, have the ball at one's feet, have one on the hop, walk over the course, carry all before one, remain in possession of the field, score a success, speed, make progress, win one's way, make one's way, work one's way, find one's way, strive to some purpose, prosper, drive a roaring trade, make profit, reap the fruits, gather the fruits, reap the benefit of, reap the harvest, strike oil, gain a windfall, make one's fortune, get in the harvest, turn to good account, turn to account, triumph, be triumphant, gain a victory, obtain a victory, gain an advantage, chain victory to one's car, nail a coonskin to the wall, surmount a difficulty, overcome a difficulty, get over a difficulty, get over an obstacle, se tirer d'affaire, make head against, stem the torrent, stem the tide, stem the current, weather the storm, weather a point, turn a corner, keep one's head above water, tide over, master, get the better of, have the better of, gain the better of, gain the best of, gain the upper hand, gain the ascendancy, gain the whip hand, gain the start of, distance, surpass, defeat, conquer, vanquish, discomfit, euchre, overcome, overthrow, overpower, overmaster, overmatch, overset, override, overreach, outwit, outdo, outflank, outmaneuver, outgeneral, outvote, take the wind out of one's adversary's sails, beat, beat hollow, rout, lick, drub, floor, worst, put down, put to flight, put to the rout, put hors de combat, put out of court, silence, quell, nonsuit, checkmate, upset, confound, nonplus, stalemate, trump, baffle, circumvent, elude, trip up, trip up the heels of, drive into a corner, drive to the wall, run hard, put one's nose out of joint, settle, do for, break the neck of, break the back of, capsize, sink, shipwreck, drown, swamp, subdue, subjugate, reduce, make the enemy bite the dust, victimize, roll in the dust, trample under foot, put an extinguisher upon, answer, answer the purpose, avail, prevail, take effect, do, turn out well, work well, take, tell, bear fruit, hit it, hit the mark, hit the right nail on the head, nick it, turn up trumps, make a hit, find one's account in.Punishment
VB punish, chastise, chasten, castigate, correct, inflict punishment, administer correction, deal retributive justice, cowhide, lambaste, visit upon, pay, pay out, serve out, do for, make short work of, give a lesson to, serve one right, make an example of, have a rod in pickle for, give it one, strike, deal a blow to, administer the lash, smite, slap, slap the face, smack, cuff, box the ears, spank, thwack, thump, beat, lay on, swinge, buffet, thresh, thrash, pummel, drub, leather, trounce, sandbag, baste, belabor, lace, lace one's jacket, dress, dress down, give a dressing, trim, warm, wipe, tund, cob, bang, strap, comb, lash, lick, larrup, wallop, whop, flog, scourge, whip, birch, cane, give the stick, switch, flagellate, horsewhip, bastinado, towel, rub down with an oaken towel, rib roast, dust one's jacket, fustigate, pitch into, lay about one, beat black and blue, beat to a mummy, beat to a jelly, give a black eye, tar and feather, pelt, stone, lapidate, masthead, keelhaul, execute, bring to the block, bring to the gallows, behead, decapitate, guillotine, decollate, hang, turn off, gibbet, bowstring, hang draw and quarter, shoot, decimate, burn, break on the wheel, crucify, empale, impale, flay, lynch, electrocute, gas, send to the gas chamber, torture, put on, put to the rack, picket, banish, exile, transport, expel, ostracize, rusticate, drum out, dismiss, disbar, disbench, strike off the roll, unfrock, post, suffer, suffer for, suffer punishment, be flogged, be executed, suffer the ultimate penalty, be hanged, come to the gallows, mount the gallows, swing, twist in the wind, dance upon nothing, die in one's shoes, be rightly served, be electrocuted, fry, ride the lightning, face the firing squad.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 "lick" in Webster Dictionary Online
