stick

play

noun \ˈstik\

Definition of stick

1 : a woody piece or part of a tree or shrub: such asa : a usually dry or dead severed shoot, twig, or slender branchb : a cut or broken branch or piece of wood gathered for fuel or construction material
2a : a long slender piece of wood or metal: such as (1) : a club or staff used as a weapon (2) : walking stickb : an implement used for striking or propelling an object in a gamec : something used to force complianced : a baton symbolizing an office or dignity; also : a person entitled to bear such a baton
3 : a piece of the materials composing something (such as a building)
4 : any of various implements resembling a stick in shape, origin, or use: such asa : composing stickb : an airplane lever operating the elevators and aileronsc : the gearshift lever of an automobile
5 : something prepared (as by cutting, molding, or rolling) in a relatively long and slender often cylindrical form a stick of candy a stick of butter
6a : person, chapb : a dull, inert, stiff, or spiritless person
7 sticks plural : remote usually rural districts regarded especially as backward, dull, or unsophisticated : boondocks
8 : an herbaceous stalk resembling a woody stick celery sticks
9 : ¹mast 1; also : ¹yard 4
10 : a piece of furniture
11a : a number of bombs arranged for release from a bombing plane in a series across a targetb : a number of parachutists dropping together
12 slang : a marijuana cigarette
13a : punishment or the threat of punishment used to force compliance or cooperation choosing between the carrot and the stickb British : criticism, abuse

sticklike

play \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Illustration of stick

Origin and Etymology of stick

Middle English stik, from Old English sticca; akin to Old Norse stik stick, Old English stician to stick

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

stick

verb

Definition of stick

transitive verb
: to hit or propel (something, such as a hockey puck) with a stick

First Known Use of stick

1937

Other Field and Goal Sports Terms

crease, lateral, lax, overthrow, playbook, post, screen, scrum, secondary, ultimate

stick

verb

Definition of stick

stuck

play \ˈstək\;

sticking

transitive verb
1a : to pierce with something pointed : stabb : to kill by piercing
2 : to push or thrust so as or as if to pierce
3a : to fasten by thrusting inb : impalec : push, thrust
4 : to put or set in a specified place or position
5 : to furnish with things fastened on by or as if by piercing
6 : to attach by or as if by causing to adhere to a surface
7a : to compel to pay especially by trickery got stuck with the bar billb : overcharge
8a : to halt the movement or action ofb : baffle, stump
9a : cheat, defraudb : to saddle with something disadvantageous or disagreeable is still stuck with that lousy car
10 : to execute (a landing) flawlessly in gymnastics
intransitive verb
1 : to hold to something firmly by or as if by adhesion:a : to become fixed in place by means of a pointed endb : to become fast by or as if by miring or by gluing or plastering stuck in the mud
2a : to remain in a place, situation, or environmentb : to hold fast or adhere resolutely : cling she stuck to her storyc : to remain effectived : to keep close in a chase or competition
3 : to become blocked, wedged, or jammed
4a : balk, scrupleb : to find oneself baffledc : to be unable to proceed
5 : project, protrude

stick in one's craw

: to irritate, nag at, or obsess one

stick it to

: to treat harshly or unfairly

stick one's neck out

: to make oneself vulnerable by taking a risk

stick to one's guns

: to maintain one's position especially in face of opposition

stuck on

: infatuated with

Origin and Etymology of stick

Middle English stikken, from Old English stician; akin to Old High German sticken to prick, Latin instigare to urge on, goad, Greek stizein to tattoo

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of stick

stick, adhere, cohere, cling, cleave mean to become closely attached. stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. couldn't get the label to stick adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together. antibodies adhering to a virus cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass. eggs will make the mixture cohere cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils. clinging to a capsized boat cleave stresses strength of attachment. the wet shirt cleaved to his back

stick

noun

Definition of stick

1 : a thrust with a pointed instrument : stab
2a : delay, stopb : impediment
3 : adhesive quality or substance

First Known Use of stick

1633

STICK Defined for Kids

stick

play

noun \ˈstik\

Definition of stick for Students

1 : a cut or broken branch or twig
2 : a long thin piece of wood
3 : walking stick 1
4 : something like a stick in shape or use fish sticks a hockey stick

stick

play

verb

Definition of stick for Students

stuck

\ˈstək\;

sticking

1 : to push into or through I stuck a needle in my finger.
2 : to stab or pierce with something pointed Ow! The thorn stuck me.
3 : to put in place by or as if by pushing She stuck candles in the cake.
4 : to push out, up, into, or under I stuck out my hand.
5 : to put in a specified place or position I stuck a cap on my head.
6 : to remain in a place, situation, or environment We decided to stick where we were.
7 : to halt the movement or action of The car was stuck in traffic.
8 : baffle I got stuck on the first problem.
9 : to burden with something unpleasant She was stuck with paying the bill.
10 : to fix or become fixed in place by or as if by gluing Stick a stamp on the letter.
11 : to cling or cause to cling My wet clothes stuck to me.
12 : to become blocked or jammed The door is stuck.