wick

1 of 2

noun

ˈwik 

: a bundle of fibers or a loosely twisted, braided, or woven cord, tape, or tube usually of soft spun cotton threads that by capillarity draws up to be burned a steady supply of the oil in lamps or the melted tallow or wax in candles

wick

2 of 2

verb

wicked; wicking; wicks

transitive verb

: to absorb or drain (a fluid, moisture, etc.) like a wick

a fabric that wicks away perspiration

Examples of wick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The candle comes with three wicks, a silver lid, and thick glass walls for an even burn. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Apr. 2026

The three-wick jar candle has an impressive burn time of up to 40 hours, filling a room with tropical scents. —Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026

Verb

One method uses an instrument called a sling psychrometer, which is made of a dry-bulb thermometer that measures ambient air temperature and a wet-bulb thermometer that uses a wet cloth wick to measure the cooling effect of evaporation on temperature. —John P. Rafferty, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Apr. 2026

This material is a derivative of eucalyptus with moisture absorption properties to wick away sweat from skin. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English weke, wicke, from Old English wēoce; akin to Old High German wiohha wick, Middle Irish figid he weaves

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1949, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing wick

• get on someone's wick

Rhymes for wick

• bick
• brick
• chick
• click
• fick
• flick
• hick
• kick
• knick
• lick
• mic
• nick

Kids Definition

wick

1 of 2 noun

ˈwik 

: a cord, strip, or ring of loosely woven material through which a liquid (as wax or oil) is drawn to the top in a candle, lamp, or oil stove for burning

wick

2 of 2 verb

: to absorb or drain (as a fluid or moisture) like a wick

fabric that wicks away sweat

Medical Definition

wick

1 of 2 noun

ˈwik 

: a strip of material (as gauze) placed in a wound to serve as a drain

wick

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to absorb or drain (as fluid or moisture) like a wick

—often used with away

a dry gauze dressing was used to wick exudate away from the wound