Word
lick
Phoneticslick
US/ˈɫɪk/
UK/lˈɪk/
Definitions
01to use the tongue
A2 · Elementary
v. to move your tongue across the surface of something.
v. to pass the tongue over a surface, typically to taste, clean, or moisten.
“The dog tried to lick my hand when I sat down on the sofa.”
“The child continued to lick the ice cream cone until it was entirely gone, oblivious to the sticky residue on his chin.”
02to defeat
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
v. to beat someone in a fight or a competition.
v. to defeat an opponent decisively or to overcome a difficult problem.
“Our team finally managed to lick the champions in the final game.”
“The company struggled for years, but they finally licked their production problems by investing in new technology.”
03a stroke of the tongue
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the action of moving the tongue over something.
n. an act or instance of passing the tongue over a surface.
“With one quick lick, the cat cleaned the milk off its whiskers.”
“The cow gave the salt block a long lick before returning to the grassy patch near the fence.”
Synonyms
04music motif
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Music Informal
n. a short, catchy series of notes in a song, especially in jazz or rock.
n. a short, recognisable melodic phrase or motif, particularly in improvised genres like jazz, blues, or rock.
“The guitarist played a famous blues lick that everyone in the crowd recognised.”
“He spent the afternoon practicing a complex jazz lick he had heard on an old Miles Davis recording.”
05a small amount
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a very small amount of something, like paint or work.
n. a small, superficial amount or application of something.
Español:chin
“The old fence looks much better after a lick of white paint.”
“The project was nearly finished; it just needed a lick of polish before the final presentation.”
06speed
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · British English
n. a fast speed.
n. a considerable rate of speed; almost exclusively used with adjectives like 'fair' or 'good'.
“The car went past us at a fair lick on the motorway.”
“We were travelling at a good lick when the tyre suddenly blew out, forcing us to pull over immediately.”
07a robbery or deal
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang · American English
n. a way to get money quickly, often by doing something illegal.
n. an opportunity or instance of obtaining money quickly, typically through a heist, drug deal, or other illicit activity.
“They were looking to hit a lick so they could pay their rent.”
“The detectives monitored the group, suspecting they were planning to hit a lick at the local warehouse over the weekend.”
Usage
Commonly used in the context of stringed instruments or brass; informal in musical register.
Real-World Examples
“Volunteers offered to give the empty properties a clean and a lick of paint, to make them more attractive to let.” Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/lick
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0