Lick /(lĭk)/

Lick

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Licked; p. pr. & vb. n. Licking

  1. To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand.
  2. To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk.

Phrases & Compounds
To lick the dust
to be slain; to fall in battle.
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.
To lick the spittle of
to fawn upon.
To lick up
to take all of by licking; to devour; to consume entirely.

Lick

n.
  1. A stroke of the tongue in licking.
  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.
  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. Called also salt lick. [U. S.]

Lick

v. t.
  1. To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter. [Colloq. or Low]

Lick

n.
  1. A slap; a quick stroke. [Colloq.]