ENGLISH
REFERENCE

icky

adj.
B1 Intermediate UK //ˈaɪki// icky Informal

adj. disgusting or unpleasant in a way that makes you feel like you want to wash your hands. You use this for things that are gross or make you feel sick.

adj. causing a sense of disgust or physical revulsion.


SIMPLE

I don't want to touch that icky green mold.

CONTEXTUAL

The kitchen was filled with an icky smell that made everyone lose their appetite for dinner.

COMPLEX

While some people find fermented foods delicious, others find the strong, pungent aroma of the local cheese market absolutely icky and prefer to avoid it entirely.

Synonyms
Origin

1935, American English; from icky-boo (circa 1920): sickly, nauseated; baby talk corruption of sick; from a sentimental term for jazz music.

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