flick

[[t]flɪ̱k[/t]]

flicks, flicking, flicked

1) V-ERG If something flicks in a particular direction, or if someone flicks it, it moves with a short, sudden movement.

[V prep/adv] His tongue flicked across his lips...

[V prep/adv] The man's gun flicked up from beside his thigh...

[V prep/adv] His glance flicked round my face and came to rest on my eyes...

[V n prep/adv] He flicked his cigarette out of the window. [Also V, V n]

N-COUNT: oft a N of n

Flick is also a noun.

...a flick of a paintbrush.

2) VERB If you flick something away, or off something else, you remove it with a quick movement of your hand or finger.

[V n from/off n] Shirley flicked a speck of fluff from the sleeve of her black suit...

[V n away] Alan stretched out his hand and flicked the letter away.

3) VERB If you flick something such as a whip or a towel, or flick something with it, you hold one end of it and move your hand quickly up and then forward, so that the other end moves.

[V n] He helped her up before flicking the reins...

[V n prep] She sighed and flicked a dishcloth at the counter...

[V n with n] The jockey said he tended to flick horses with the whip.

N-COUNT

Flick is also a noun.

...a flick of the whip.

4) VERB If you flick a switch, or flick an electrical appliance on or off, you press the switch sharply so that it moves into a different position and works the equipment.

[V n] He flicked a light-switch on the wall beside the door...

[V n with on/off] Sam was flicking a flashlight on and off...

[V n with on/off] Pearle flicked off the TV.

5) VERB If you flick through a book or magazine, you turn its pages quickly, for example to get a general idea of its contents or to look for a particular item. If you flick through television channels, you continually change channels very quickly, for example using a remote control.

[V through n] She was flicking through some magazines on a table...

[V through n] I'll just flick through the pages until I find the right section...

[V through n] He switched on the television, flicking through the channels in a search for something to hold his interest.

N-SING: a N

Flick is also a noun.

I thought I'd have a quick flick through some recent issues.