lick

• 

  wolfhound licking hand of reclining man
• WordNet 3.6
  • v lick find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of "did you solve the problem?","Work out your problems with the boss","this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out","did you get it?","Did you get my meaning?","He could not work the math problem"
  • v lick take up with the tongue "The cat lapped up the milk","the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast"
  • v lick beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight "We licked the other team on Sunday!"
  • v lick pass the tongue over "the dog licked her hand"
  • n lick (boxing) a blow with the fist "I gave him a clout on his nose"
  • n lick touching with the tongue "the dog's laps were warm and wet"
  • n lick a salt deposit that animals regularly lick
  • ***

Additional illustrations & photos:

Lick Observatory telescope

LONGING FOR LICKINGS

"YOU AIN'T NO MORE 'OLD ON THAT SADDLE THAN A STAMP WITH THE GUM LICKED OFF!"

• Interesting fact: Every time you lick a stamp, you're consuming 1/10 of a calorie.
• • Lick A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs. Called also salt lick.
  • Lick A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a tongue; as, to put on colors with a lick of the brush. Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied. "A lick of court whitewash."
  • n Lick A slap; a quick stroke. "A lick across the face."
  • Lick A stroke of the tongue in licking. "A lick at the honey pot."
  • Lick To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand.
  • Lick To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk.
  • v. t Lick To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter.
  • ***

• Interesting fact: It is impossible to lick your elbow.
• • lick To pass or draw the tongue over the surface of; rub with the tongue.
  • lick To take into the mouth by lapping with the tongue; lap.
  • lick To strike repeatedly by way of punishment; flog; chastise with blows; beat.
  • lick Hence To “beat” or overcome; gain a victory over; surpass; excel.
  • lick In mech.: To catch and retain (fiber), as the rollers of drawing-frames in a damp atmosphere.
  • lick To lap or scoop up; wipe off or transfer by intermittent contact, as in the device for lubrication called a licker.
  • lick To take up gradually and feed (fiber) into a carding-machine: said of the action of the card called the licker-in.
  • lick To prostrate one's self on the ground in token of utter submission; act abjectly and servilely.
  • lick To gain the victory; be victorious: as, who licked?
  • n lick A rubbing or drawing of the tongue over something.
  • n lick A slight smear or coat, as of paint.
  • n lick A small quantity; as much as can be taken up by the tongue: as, a lick of sugar or of oatmeal.
  • n lick A place where salt is deposited at salt-springs, and where animals come, or might come, to lick it.
  • n lick A blow; a stroke; hence, a trial or essay.
  • n lick plural A beating.
  • lick To tear along; ride at full gallop.
  • n lick An aberration of the appetite, with a morbid desire to eat foreign substances having no food value, which attacks nearly all the domestic animals. In the ox it is called pica, in the sheep wool-eating, etc.
  • ***

• Interesting fact: Over 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.
• • v.t Lick lik to pass the tongue over: to take in by the tongue: to lap: to beat by repeated blows:
  • n Lick a passing the tongue over: a slight smear: : :
  • v.t Lick lik (coll.) to triumph over, overcome
  • n Lick (Scot.) a tiny amount: a blow
  • n Lick (coll.) an attempt, trial
  • n Lick (pl., Scot.) a thrashing
  • ***

• Gene Roddenberry

  

  “A man either lives life as it happens to him, meets it head-on and licks it, or he turns his back on it and starts to wither away.”
• William Shakespeare

  

  “'Tis an ill cook that cannot lick his own fingers.”
• Harper Lee

  

  “Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
• William B. Given

  

  “Details often kill initiative, but there have been few successful men who weren't good at details. Don't ignore details. Lick them.”
• Clare Boothe Luce

  

  “In politics women type the letters, lick the stamps, distribute the pamphlets and get out the vote. Men get elected.”
• Proverb

  

  “Many lick before they bite.”

In literature:

In poetry:

In news:

In science: