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lick
- pronunciation:
- lIk
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, noun
- phrases:
- lick into shape, with a lick and a promise
- features:
- Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
licked, licking, licks |
| definition 1: |
to pass the tongue over or along the surface of.
The dog licked the boy's face.
- synonyms:
- tongue
- similar words:
- lap, moisten, taste, wet
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| definition 2: |
to bring to the mouth or eat away at by licking; lap up (often fol. by off or from).
She licked her ice cream cone.The dog licked up the water.- synonyms:
- lap
- similar words:
- nibble, sip, slurp, suck, taste, tongue
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| definition 3: |
of flames, waves, and the like, to reach toward or pass lightly over.
The flames licked the edges of the wood.- synonyms:
- graze, lap
- similar words:
- brush, caress, nibble, tongue, touch
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| definition 4: |
(informal) to beat or thrash in punishment.
His father licked him for stealing.- synonyms:
- beat, drub, shellac, tan, thrash, trounce, wallop
- similar words:
- birch, cane, clobber, flog, hide, hit, smack, spank, switch, whip
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| definition 5: |
(informal) to outdo or defeat, as if in a fight.
She licked her opponent easily.- synonyms:
- beat, clobber, conquer, defeat, drub, rout, shellac, thrash, trounce, wallop
- similar words:
- outdo, overpower, subdue, upset, vanquish, whip
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| related words: |
beat, blow, defeat, down, drub, overcome, rout, smear, trounce |
| phrase: |
lick into shape |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the act or process of licking with the tongue.
She gave the envelope a lick and sealed it.- synonyms:
- lap
- similar words:
- taste
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| definition 2: |
an amount brought to the mouth by the tongue in one pass.
Can I have a lick of your ice cream?- synonyms:
- lap
- similar words:
- nibble, taste
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| definition 3: |
an area where salt is exposed and animals come to lick it; salt lick.
- synonyms:
- salt lick
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| definition 4: |
(informal) a cuff or slap; blow.
Be careful with what you say, or you'll get a lick.- synonyms:
- blow, cuff, punch, slap, smack, spank, swat, whack
- similar words:
- buffet, hit, rap, thump, wallop
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| definition 5: |
(informal) even a small amount.
He hasn't done a lick of work.- synonyms:
- bit, dab, iota, modicum, scintilla, shred, smidgen, speck, touch
- similar words:
- mite, scrap, smack, smattering, soupçon, taste, trace
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| definition 6: |
(usu. pl.) strong criticism.
- synonyms:
- rap, rebuke, slam, slap
- similar words:
- censure, criticism, denunciation, disapproval
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| related words: |
whip |
| phrase: |
with a lick and a promise |
| derivation: |
licker (n.) |
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