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lick
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- pronunciation:
- lIk
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, noun
- phrases:
- lick into shape, with a lick and a promise
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
part of speech: |
transitive verb |
inflections: |
licks, licking, licked |
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 use the tongue to bring into the mouth or eat away at (sometimes fol. by "off" or "up").
The dog licked up the gravy that spilled on the floor.She licked off the whipped cream that had fallen on her plate.The child licked her ice cream happily.- 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 |
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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 |
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phrase: |
with a lick and a promise |
derivation: |
licker (n.) |
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