lick

verb
UK: /lɪk/
US: /lɪk/

  1. To move the tongue across something.

    1. The cat can lick its fur to clean it. [ ] [ ]
    2. I accidentally dropped my ice cream and now it has dirt, but I am going to lick it anyway. [ ] [ ]

  2. To defeat easily.

    1. Our team can lick their team easily. [ ] [ ]
    2. I bet I could lick you in a race around the block if you give me a head start. [ ] [ ]

  3. A small amount or quick try.

    1. Let me take a lick of your ice cream. [ ] [ ]
    2. The new employee needed just a lick of guidance to understand her responsibilities. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

defeat taste thrash beat touch lap
lick noun

  1. An act of passing the tongue over something.

    1. The dog gave my face a lick. [ ] [ ]
    2. After the spill, she gave the counter a quick lick with the cloth. [ ] [ ]

  2. A small amount of something.

    1. I only need a lick of sugar. [ ] [ ]
    2. The recipe called for just a lick of salt to enhance the flavor of the sauce. [ ] [ ]
lick transitive-verb

  1. To pass the tongue over.

    1. Don't lick the spoon and put it back. [ ] [ ]
    2. The child started to lick the lollipop with obvious enjoyment. [ ] [ ]
lick intransitive-verb

  1. To move the tongue across a surface

    1. The lizard will lick to drink water. [ ] [ ]
    2. After eating the messy treat, the toddler had to lick to clean their face. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "lick" in English means: To move the tongue across something., To defeat easily., A small amount or quick try..

The phonetic transcription of "lick" is /lɪk/ in British English and /lɪk/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "lick": defeat, taste, thrash, beat, touch, lap.

Example usage of "lick": "The cat can lick its fur to clean it.". More examples on the page.