lick

lick

 (lĭk)

v. licked, lick·ing, licks

v.tr.

1. To pass the tongue over or along: lick a stamp.

2. To lap up: The cat licked the milk from the bowl.

3. To lap or flicker at like a tongue: The waves licked the sides of the boat.

4. Slang

a. To beat or thrash.

b. To defeat soundly: licked their rivals in lacrosse.

c. To deal with effectively; overcome: licked her weight problem.

v.intr.

To pass or lap quickly and rapidly: The flames licked at our feet.

n.

1. The act or process of licking.

2. An amount obtained by licking: a lick of ice cream.

3. A small quantity; a bit: hasn't got a lick of common sense.

4. A deposit of exposed natural salt that is licked by passing animals.

5. Slang A sudden hard stroke; a blow.

6. Slang An attempt; a try: Why not give those skis a lick?

7. Informal Speed; pace: moving along at a good lick.

8. Music A phrase improvised by a soloist, especially on the guitar or banjo.

Idioms:

lick and a promise

A superficial effort made without care or enthusiasm.

lick into shape Informal

To bring into satisfactory condition or appearance.

lick (one's) chops

To anticipate delightedly.

lick (one's) wounds

To recuperate after a defeat.

lick (someone's) boots

To behave in a servile or obsequious manner toward someone.

---

[Middle English licken, from Old English liccian; see leigh- in Indo-European roots.]

---

lick′er n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

lick

(lɪk)

vb

1. (tr) to pass the tongue over, esp in order to taste or consume

2. to flicker or move lightly over or round (something): the flames licked around the door.

3. (tr) informal

a. to defeat or vanquish

b. to flog or thrash

c. to be or do much better than

4. lick into shape to put into a satisfactory condition: from the former belief that bear cubs were born formless and had to be licked into shape by their mother

5. lick one's lips to anticipate or recall something with glee or relish

6. lick one's wounds to retire after a defeat or setback in order to husband one's resources

7. lick the boots of See boot¹¹⁵

n

8. an instance of passing the tongue over something

9. a small amount: a lick of paint.

10. (Veterinary Science) Also called: salt lick a block of compressed salt or chemical matter provided for domestic animals to lick for medicinal and nutritional purposes

11. (Zoology) a place to which animals go to lick exposed natural deposits of salt

12. informal a hit; blow

13. (Music, other) slang a short musical phrase, usually on one instrument

14. informal speed; rate of movement: he was going at quite a lick when he hit it.

15. a lick and a promise something hastily done, esp a hurried wash

[Old English liccian; related to Old High German leckon, Latin lingere, Greek leikhein]

ˈlicker n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

lick

(lɪk)
v.t.

1. to pass the tongue over the surface of, as to moisten, taste, or eat (often fol. by up, off, from, etc.): to lick a postage stamp; to lick an ice-cream cone.

2. to make, or cause to become, by stroking with the tongue: to lick a spoon clean.

3. (of waves, flames, etc.) to pass or play lightly over.

4. Informal.

a. to hit or beat, esp. as a punishment; thrash; whip.

b. to overcome or defeat, as in a fight, game, or contest.

v.i.

5. to move quickly or lightly.

n.

6. a stroke of the tongue over something.

7. as much as can be taken up by one stroke of the tongue.

8. salt lick.

9. Informal.

a. a blow.

b. a brief, brisk burst of activity or energy.

c. a quick pace or clip; speed.

d. a small amount: I haven't done a lick of work all week.

10. Usu., licks. a critical or complaining remark.

11. Usu., licks. a musical phrase, as by a jazz soloist in improvising.

Idioms:

1. last licks, a final turn or opportunity.

2. lick into shape, Informal. to bring to completion or perfection through discipline, hard work, etc.

3. lick one's wounds, to attempt to heal or sooth oneself after injury or defeat.

[before 1000; Middle English; Old English liccian, c. Old Saxon liccōn, Old High German leckōn]

lick′er, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

lick

Past participle: licked
Gerund: licking

Imperative

lick

lick

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	lick - a salt deposit that animals regularly lick salt lick sediment, deposit - matter that has been deposited by some natural process
	2.	lick - touching with the tongue; "the dog's laps were warm and wet" lap touching, touch - the act of putting two things together with no space between them; "at his touch the room filled with lights"
	3.	lick - (boxing) a blow with the fist; "I gave him a clout on his nose" biff, punch, clout, poke, slug counterpunch, parry, counter - a return punch (especially by a boxer) knockout punch, KO punch, Sunday punch, haymaker - a hard punch that renders the opponent unable to continue boxing hook - a short swinging punch delivered from the side with the elbow bent jab - a quick short straight punch rabbit punch - a short chopping blow to the back of the neck sucker punch - an unexpected punch boxing, pugilism, fisticuffs - fighting with the fists blow - a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon; "a blow on the head"
Verb	1.	lick - beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight; "We licked the other team on Sunday!" drub, clobber, cream, bat, thrash beat, beat out, vanquish, trounce, crush, shell - come out better in a competition, race, or conflict; "Agassi beat Becker in the tennis championship"; "We beat the competition"; "Harvard defeated Yale in the last football game" flail, thrash, lam, thresh - give a thrashing to; beat hard
	2.	lick - pass the tongue over; "the dog licked her hand" lap stroke - touch lightly and repeatedly, as with brushing motions; "He stroked his long beard" tongue - lick or explore with the tongue
	3.	lick - find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of; "did you solve the problem?"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it?"; "Did you get my meaning?"; "He could not work the math problem" figure out, puzzle out, solve, work out, work understand - know and comprehend the nature or meaning of; "She did not understand her husband"; "I understand what she means" answer, resolve - understand the meaning of; "The question concerning the meaning of life cannot be answered" riddle - explain a riddle strike - arrive at after reckoning, deliberating, and weighing; "strike a balance"; "strike a bargain" guess, infer - guess correctly; solve by guessing; "He guessed the right number of beans in the jar and won the prize" answer - give the correct answer or solution to; "answer a question"; "answer the riddle" break - find the solution or key to; "break the code"
	4.	lick - take up with the tongue; "The cat lapped up the milk"; "the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast" lap up, lap drink, imbibe - take in liquids; "The patient must drink several liters each day"; "The children like to drink soda"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

lick

verb

1. taste, lap, tongue, touch, wash, brush The dog licked the man's hand excitedly.

2. (Informal) beat, defeat, overcome, best, top, stuff (slang), tank (slang), undo, rout, excel, surpass, outstrip, outdo, trounce, clobber (slang), vanquish, run rings around (informal), wipe the floor with (informal), blow out of the water (slang) He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight.

3. (of flames) flicker, touch, flick, dart, ripple, ignite, play over, kindle The fire sent its red tongues licking into the hallway.

noun

1. dab, little, bit, touch, taste, sample, stroke, brush, speck It could do with a lick of paint to brighten up its premises.

2. (Informal) pace, rate, speed, clip (informal) an athletic cyclist travelling at a fair lick

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

lick

verb

1. Slang. To punish with blows or lashes:

beat, flog, hide, lash, thrash, whip.

Informal: trim.

Slang: lay into.

2. Slang. To win a victory over, as in battle or a competition:

beat, best, conquer, defeat, master, overcome, prevail against (or over), rout, subdue, subjugate, surmount, triumph over, vanquish, worst.

Informal: trim, whip.

Slang: ace.

Idioms: carry the day, get the best of, get the better of, go someone one better.

noun

A sudden sharp, powerful stroke:

bang, blow, clout, crack, hit, pound, slug, sock, swat, thwack, welt, whack, wham, whop.

Informal: bash, biff, bop, clip, wallop.

Slang: belt, conk, paste.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

لحسلَعْق، لَعْقَهمِقْدار قَليليَلْحَسُيَلْعَق

llepar

lízatlíznutíolíznoutpřetření

slikkesmuleslik

LeckenSpur

γλείφωγλύφω

lamerlengüetadamanolamberlamedura

nuolla

léchercoup de langue

lizatiliznuti

megnyalnyal

sleikjasletta, umferîòaî aî sleikja

leccareleccataleggero stratolustrare gli stivali a...picchiare

なめる

핥다

brūkštelėjimaslaižytilyžtelėjimaspalaižymassuteikti tinkamą pavidalą

aplaizīšanaaplaizītlaizīšanalaizītlakšana

likkenlik

slikkslikke

lizaćpolizać

lamber

лизать

lízaťpretretie

lizanjelizati

slicka

เลีย

yalamakazıcıkbirazcıkyalayalama

liếm

舔一刷之量

lick

[lɪk]

A. VT

1. → lamer
flames were licking (at) the door → las llamas empezaron a lamer la puerta
to lick one's wounds (lit) → lamerse las heridas (fig) → curarse las heridas
to lick sb's boots → hacer la pelota or dar coba a algn
to lick sth into shape → poner algo a punto

2. (= defeat) → dar una paliza a

B. N

1. (with tongue) → lametazo m, lengüetada f
a lick and a promise → una lavada a la carrera or de cualquier manera

2. (fig) a lick of paint → una mano de pintura
a lick of polish → un poquito de cera

3. (= speed) to go at a good or a fair old lick → ir a buen tren
at full lick → a todo gas, a toda mecha

lick off VT + ADV → quitar de un lametazo

lick up VT + ADV → beber a lengüetadas

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

lick

[ˈlɪk]

vt

(with tongue) → lécher
to lick one's fingers → se lécher les doigts
to lick one's lips (lit) → se lécher les lèvres (fig) (in anticipation of pleasure) → se lécher les babines; (at the prospect of food) → se pourlécher (les babines)
to lick one's wounds (fig) → panser ses blessures

[flames] → lécher

(= defeat) [+ opponent] → écraser, battre à plate couture

n

(with tongue) → coup m de langue
The cat gave him a lick → Le chat lui donna un coup de langue.
He wanted a lick of her lollipop → Il voulait lécher sa sucette.

a lick of paint → un petit coup de peinture

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

lick

n

(with tongue) → Lecken nt, → Schlecken nt (dial); to give something a lick → an etw (dat) → lecken; the cat gave me/my hand a lick → die Katze leckte mich ab/mir die Hand

(= salt lick) → (Salz)lecke f; (artificial) → Leckstein m

(inf: = small quantity) it’s time we gave the kitchen a lick of paint → die Küche könnte auch mal wieder etwas Farbe vertragen (inf); he doesn’t do a lick of work → er tut keinen Schlag

(Brit inf: = pace) the project is coming along at a good lick → das Projekt geht ganz gut voran (inf); to go/drive at a fair old lick → einen ganz schönen Zahn draufhaben (inf); he rushed to the station at full lick → er raste mit Vollgas zum Bahnhof (inf)

vt

(with tongue) → lecken; he licked the stamp → er leckte an der Briefmarke; he licked the ice cream → er leckte am Eis; to lick one’s lips → sich (dat) → die Lippen lecken; (fig) → sich (dat) → die Finger lecken; the cat licked its paws → die Katze leckte sich (dat) → die Pfoten; to lick the bowl out → die Schüssel auslecken; to lick one’s wounds (fig) → seine Wunden lecken; to lick somebody’s boots (fig) → vor jdm kriechen (inf), → jds Stiefel lecken; to lick somebody into shape (fig) → jdn auf Vordermann bringen (inf)

(waves) → plätschern an (+acc); (flames) → züngeln an (+dat)

(inf: = beat, defeat) → in die Pfanne hauen (inf); I think we’ve got it licked → ich glaube, wir haben die Sache jetzt im Griff

vi to lick at something → an etw (dat) → lecken; flames licked around the building → Flammen züngelten an dem Gebäude empor

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

lick

[lɪk]

1. vt

a. (with tongue) → leccare; (subj, flames) → lambire
to lick one's plate clean → pulire il piatto con la lingua
to lick one's lips → leccarsi le labbra (hungrily) → leccarsi i baffi
to lick one's wounds (also) (fig) → leccarsi le ferite
to lick sb's boots (fig) (fam) → leccare i piedi a qn
to lick sth into shape (fig) (fam) → mettere a punto qc

b. (fam) (defeat) → suonarle a, stracciare

2. n

a. → leccata
a lick of paint → una passata di vernice
a lick and a promise (fig) (fam) → una pulitina sommaria

b. (fam) (speed) at full lick → a tutta birra

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

lick

(lik) verb

to pass the tongue over. The dog licked her hand. lek يَلْعَق лижа lamber lízat lecken slikke γλείφωlamer lakkuma لیسیدن nuolla lécher לְלַקֵק चाटना, हल्के से छूना lizati (meg)nyal menjilat sleikja leccare なめる (혀로) 핥다 laižyti []laizīt; lakt menjilat likkenslikkelizać څټل lamber a linge лизать; облизывать lízať lizati lizati slicka เลีย yalamak 舔 лизати; облизувати چاٹنا liếm 舔

noun

1. an act of licking. The child gave the ice-cream a lick. lek لَعْق، لَعْقَه лизане lambida líznutí das Lecken slik γλείψιμο, γλειψιά lamedura, lengüetada lakkumine لیس nuolaisu coup de langueליקוק लेहन lizanje nyalás jilatan það að sleikja leccata なめること 핥기 lyžtelėjimas, palaižymas []laizīšana; lakšana jilatan likslikk liźnięcie د څټلو كړن lambedela lins облизывание liznutie lizanje lizanje slick, slickning การเลีย yalama 舔 облизування چاٹنے کا عمل sự liếm 舔

2. a hasty application (of paint). These doors could do with a lick of paint. leksel مِقْدار قَليل намазване mão de tinta přetření die Spur smule γρήγορο πέρασμα με μπογιά mano kerge kiht ضربه سریع قلم sutaisu petit coup “מְרִיחָה” थोडी़ मात्रा bojanje na brzinu egy kis... sapuan sletta, umferð pennellata ひと塗り 한바탕의 수고 brūkštelėjimas viegla pieskaršanās sedikit lik raskt strøk maling machnięcie, pociągnięcie د قلم چټك ګوزار pintadela un pic de (vop­sea) чуточка pretretie kaplja sloj [snabb] strykning แต้ม azıcık, birazcık 隨便塗上(油漆) незначна кількість سرسری عمل một lớp sơn （油漆等）一刷之量

lick into shape

to put into a better or more efficient form. fatsoeneer يَجْعَلُه حَسَن الطَّلْعَه подобрявам pôr em forma přeformovat in die richtige Form bringen sætte skik på σουλουπώνω ponerse en forma korda seadma با کار و دقت زیاد سر و صورت دادن panna järjestykseen mettre au point לְשַפֵּר प्रशिक्षित करना dovesti u pristojno stanje kipofoz (vmit) memperbaiki flikka upp á, þjálfa (mettere a punto) 仕上げる 온전한 것으로 만들다 suteikti tinkamą pavidalą, sutvarkyti piešķirt formu; sakārtot memperbaiki op peil brengen få skikk på doprowadzić do porządku په خورا وړتيا سره يو كار كول pôr em forma a pune la punct придавать форму sformovať urediti urediti sätta (få) fason på จัดแต่ง daha iyi şekle sokmak, adam etmek 整頓，使更趨完善 давати лад чому بہتری لانا uốn nắn 整顿，使有效

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

lick

→ يَلْحَسُ olíznout slikke lecken γλύφω lamer nuolla lécher lizati leccare なめる 핥다 likken slikke polizać lamber лизать slicka เลีย yalamak liếm 舔

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

lick

vt. lamer; golpear,

pop. dar una tunda.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

lick

vt lamer

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.