lick

[[t]lɪ̱k[/t]]

licks, licking, licked

1) VERB When people or animals lick something, they move their tongue across its surface.

[V n] She folded up her letter, licking the envelope flap with relish...

[V n] The dog rose awkwardly to his feet and licked the man's hand excitedly.

N-COUNT: usu sing

Lick is also a noun.

He wouldn't lend the lollipop he was licking. Kevin, who was a year older, wanted a lick.

2) VERB If you lick someone or something, you easily defeat them in a fight or competition. [INFORMAL]

[V n] He might be able to lick us all in a fair fight...

[V n] The Chancellor's upbeat message that the Government had licked inflation for good was marred by more job losses.

Syn:

beat

3) VERB When flames of a large fire lick somewhere or something, the fire begins to reach that place or thing and the flames touch it lightly and briefly. [LITERARY]

[V prep/adv] The fire came roaring through the kitchen ceiling and sent its red tongues licking into the entrance hall...

[V n] The apex of the flames licked the crimson sky.

4) N-COUNT: usu N of n A lick of something is a small amount of it. [INFORMAL]

It could do with a lick of paint to brighten up its premises.

Syn:

spot

5) N-COUNT A lick is a short piece of music which is part of a song and is played on a guitar. A lick is also a short section in a piece of jazz, which the musician invents while they are playing. [INFORMAL]

...the screeching licks of heavy metal guitar.

6) to lick your lips → see lip

to lick into shape → see shape

to lick your wounds → see wound