verb
lick
lihk
verb
1
To pass the tongue over something.
"The dog licked her hand affectionately."
"He licked the envelope before sealing it."
2
To defeat decisively, especially in a fight or contest.
"Our team licked the rivals 5-0 last night."
noun
1
A single stroke of the tongue.
"She gave the ice cream one quick lick before it melted."
2
A short musical phrase or riff, especially in guitar playing.
"The guitarist repeated the same bluesy lick throughout the solo."
How to Use Lick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo touch with the tongue — or, informally, to beat someone soundly, or (in music) a short catchy riff.
Common pairings
lick your lips
lick someone in a fight
a guitar lick
Word Forms
licked past tense, licks plural, licks plural, Licks plural, licks singular
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Etymology
From Old English liccian, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "to lick," related to Latin lingo and Greek leíkhō. The violent sense ("to beat, defeat") is unique to English and its exact origin is unclear.