noun

stick

stihk

noun

A thin piece of wood, especially a fallen branch or twig.

"The dog ran off with a stick in its mouth."

"They gathered sticks to build a campfire."

A long, thin implement used for a specific purpose, such as a walking cane, a hockey stick, or a gear lever.

"He grabbed his hockey stick and headed to the rink."

"She drives a stick, not an automatic."

verb

To become attached to a surface, usually with glue or something sticky.

"The label wouldn't stick to the wet jar."

"Rice tends to stick to the bottom of the pan if you don't stir it."

To push a pointed object into something; to pierce.

"He stuck a fork into the potato to check if it was done."

To remain firm, loyal, or persistent, especially with "with" or "to."

"She decided to stick with her original plan."

How to Use Stick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA thin piece of wood or a similar rod-shaped tool, or (as a verb) to adhere, pierce, or stay committed to something.

Common mistake

"Get some stick" (British slang for criticism) is different from literally getting hit with a stick — context makes it clear.

Common pairings

stick figure stick with it get the short end of the stick stick out

Word Forms

sticker comparative, sticked past tense, stuck past tense, sticked past tense, sticks plural, sticks plural, sticks plural, Sticks plural, sticks singular, sticks singular, stickest superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The dog ran off with a _____ in its mouth.

Etymology

From Old English sticca ("rod, twig"), related to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to pierce" — the same root behind "stigma."

Synonyms

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twig

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Rhymes for stick

ick tick kick nick sick pick rick wick mick hick lick Vick

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