# lick

/ˈɫɪk/ (US) · /lˈɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lick
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. to use the tongue

verb · CEFR A2

to move your tongue across the surface of something.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. to defeat

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to beat someone in a fight or a competition.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a stroke of the tongue

noun · CEFR B1

the action of moving the tongue over something.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. music motif

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a short, catchy series of notes in a song, especially in jazz or rock.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. a small amount

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a very small amount of something, like paint or work.

For teachers: a small, superficial amount or application of something.

- 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.

### 6. speed

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a fast speed.

For teachers: 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.

### 7. a robbery or deal

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

a way to get money quickly, often by doing something illegal.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The guitarist played a fast blues lick to start the song.
- He spent the entire afternoon practicing that famous jazz lick until his fingers were sore.
- While the rhythm section maintained a steady groove, the lead player punctuated the bridge with a series of chromatic licks that showcased his technical proficiency.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.