noun Uncommon

wick

WIHK

Wick (noun) means the braided cord in a candle or lamp that soaks up fuel to feed the flame. Example: “Trim the wick before lighting the candle again.”

noun

The braided cord in a candle or lamp that soaks up fuel to feed the flame.

"Trim the wick before lighting the candle again."

"The oil lamp's wick had burned down to almost nothing."

Any strip of absorbent material that draws liquid away by capillary action, including medically, to drain a wound.

"The nurse placed a gauze wick in the wound to drain the fluid."

"This running shirt has a wicking fabric that pulls sweat away from the skin."

verb

Of a material, to draw liquid along or through itself.

"The fabric wicks moisture away from the body."

"Sweat wicked up through the cotton shirt."

How to use wick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe absorbent cord in a candle or lamp, or (as a verb) to soak up and carry liquid the way one does.

Common pairings

light the wick trim the wick wicking fabric

Word forms

wicker comparative, more wick comparative, wicked past tense, wicked past tense, wicks plural, wicks plural, wicks plural, wicks plural, wicks plural, wicks plural, Wicks plural, wicks singular, wicks singular, wickest superlative, most wick superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Trim the _____ before lighting the candle again.

Etymology

From Old English wēoce, going back to a West Germanic root for a bundle of flax used to make a candle wick.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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taper

Related words

narrow candle taper

Rhymes for wick

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

See all rhymes for wick →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wick” mean?

The word “wick” means the braided cord in a candle or lamp that soaks up fuel to feed the flame. In plain terms, the absorbent cord in a candle or lamp, or (as a verb) to soak up and carry liquid the way one does.

How do you pronounce “wick”?

“Wick” is pronounced WIHK (/ˈwɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “wick” in a sentence?

Here is “wick” used in a sentence: “Trim the wick before lighting the candle again.”

What part of speech is “wick”?

Depending on how it is used, “wick” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “wick” come from?

The word “wick” comes from Old English. From Old English wēoce, going back to a West Germanic root for a bundle of flax used to make a candle wick.

Is “wick” a common word?

“Wick” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “wick” have?

“Wick” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the braided cord in a candle or lamp that soaks up fuel to feed the flame.

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