licking
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the act of touching something with your tongue.
the action of passing the tongue over a surface.
Simple“The dog gave his owner a friendly licking on the hand.”
In context“The child watched the cat's rhythmic licking of its paws, fascinated by the animal's meticulous grooming routine.”
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a bad loss in a game, fight, or competition.
a decisive or humiliating defeat in a contest or conflict.
Simple“Our team took a real licking in the final game of the season.”
In context“After the company took a financial licking in the first quarter, the board of directors demanded a complete overhaul of the marketing strategy.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a physical punishment where someone is hit many times.
a severe physical beating or thrashing administered as punishment.
Simple“In the old story, the boy was threatened with a licking for his lies.”
In context“The historical novel describes a time when a schoolmaster might give a student a licking for even the slightest infraction of the rules.”