licking
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɫɪkɪŋ// UK //lˈɪkɪŋ// lick·ing
n. a bad defeat in a game or a fight. It is a casual way to say that one side lost by a lot.
n. a decisive defeat in a contest or physical confrontation. Often used in sports or competitive contexts to describe a significant margin of loss.
Our team took a real licking in the final game.
After the local candidate took a licking at the polls, the party decided to change its strategy for the next election.
The small startup took a financial licking during the market crash, losing nearly half of its valuation in a single fiscal quarter.
Usage
Commonly used with the verb 'to take' or 'to give'.