lick

1 of 2

verb

ˈlik 

licked; licking; licks

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to draw the tongue over

(2)

: to flicker over like a tongue

b

: to take into the mouth with the tongue : lap

2

a

: to strike repeatedly : thrash

b

: to get the better of : overcome, defeat

intransitive verb

1

: to lap with or as if with the tongue

2

: to dart like a tongue

lick

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: an act or instance of licking

b

: a small amount : bit

couldn't swim a lick

c

: a hasty careless effort

2

a

: a sharp hit : blow

b

: a directed effort : crack

—usually used in plural

—usually used in the phrase get in one's licks

3

a

: a natural salt deposit (such as a salt spring) that animals lick

b

: a block of often medicated saline preparation given to livestock to lick

4

: a musical figure

specifically : an interpolated and usually improvised figure or flourish

5

: a critical thrust : dig, barb

Phrases

lick into shape

: to put into proper form or condition

lick one's chops

: to feel or show eager anticipation

lick one's wounds

: to recover from defeat or disappointment

lick and a promise

: a perfunctory performance of a task

Synonyms

Verb

• bash
• baste
• bat
• batter
• beat
• belabor
• belt
• birch
• bludgeon
• buffet
• bung up
• club
• curry
• do
• drub
• fib [British]
• flog
• hammer
• hide
• lace
• lambaste
• lambast
• lash
• lather
• maul
• mess (up)
• paddle
• pelt
• pommel
• pound
• pummel
• punch out
• rough (up)
• slate
• slog
• switch
• tan
• thrash
• thresh
• thump
• tromp
• wallop
• whale
• whip
• whop
• whap
• whup
• work over

Noun

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of lick in a Sentence

Verb

He licked the stamp before putting it on the envelope.

The dog licked at the plate.

She licked the sauce off her finger.

The cat licked the milk off her paws.

Flames were already licking the ceiling.

Flames were already licking at the ceiling.

Noun

Could I have a lick of your ice cream?

It just needs a lick of paint.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The video shows student volunteers who were paired up, one set sitting on chairs while the others laid down below them and licked peanut butter off of their toes. —Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2024

In an abject effort to persuade Lee not to reveal this to her, Oh barks like a dog, licks Lee’s shoes, and cuts off his own tongue with scissors. —Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English liccian; akin to Old High German leckōn to lick, Latin lingere, Greek leichein

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Noun

1603, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing lick

• a lick and a promise
• lick and a promise
• lick into shape
• lick one's chops
• lick one's lips
• lick one's wounds
• lick someone's boots
• salt lick

Kids Definition

lick

1 of 2 verb

ˈlik 

1

a

: to pass the tongue over

licked the bowl

b

: to touch or pass over like a tongue

flames were already licking the ceiling

2

: to take up with the tongue

kittens licking milk

3

a

: to hit again and again : beat

b

: to get the better of

licking noun

lick

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: an act or instance of licking

b

: a small amount : bit

hasn't done a lick of work

c

: a hasty careless effort

2

: a sharp hit : blow

got in a few licks of my own

3

: a place (as a spring) having a deposit of salt that animals regularly lick

called also salt lick