Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Lick?

\Lick\ (l[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Licked} (l[i^]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Licking}.] [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likk[=o]n, D. likken, OHG. lecch[=o]n, G. lecken, Goth. bi-laig[=o]n, Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei`chein, Skr. lih, rih. [root]121. Cf. {Lecher}, {Relish}.] 1. To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand. --Addison. 2. To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk. --Shak. {To lick the dust}, to be slain; to fall in battle. ``His enemies shall lick the dust.'' --Ps. lxxii. 9. {To lick into shape}, to give proper form to; -- from a notion that the bear's cubs are born shapeless and subsequently formed by licking. --Hudibras. {To lick the spittle of}, to fawn upon. --South. {To lick up}, to take all of by licking; to devour; to consume entirely. --Shak. --Num. xxii. 4.
\Lick\, n. [See {Lick}, v.] 1. A stroke of the tongue in licking. ``A lick at the honey pot.'' --Dryden. 2. A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a tongue; as, to put on colors with a lick of the brush. Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied. [Colloq.] A lick of court whitewash. --Gray. 3. A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs. [U. S.]
\Lick\, v. t. [Cf. OSw. l["a]gga to place, strike, prick.] To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter. [Colloq. or Low]
\Lick\, n. A slap; a quick stroke.[Colloq.] ``A lick across the face.'' --Dryden.