LICKING • FREE-TRANSLATOR.COM • Definition of Licking

Translators

Dictionaries

Courses

Other

Home

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/lˈɪkɪŋ/ Listen

verb

Lick v. t. (past & past part. licked; pres. part. licking)

To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his master's hand.

To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks milk.

To lick the dust, to be slain; to fall in battle. "His enemies shall lick the dust."

To lick into shape, to give proper form to; from a notion that the bear's cubs are born shapeless and subsequently formed by licking.

To lick the spittle of, to fawn upon.

To lick up, to take all of by licking; to devour; to consume entirely.

Lick v. t. To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter. (Colloq. or Low)

noun

Licking n.

A lapping with the tongue.

A flogging or castigation. (Colloq. or Low)

See images of 'Licking'

Etymology of 'Licking'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Licking" Quotes from Famous Books

... associated will imitate each other. A lady writes me that she has a rabbit that lives in a cage with a monkey, and that it has caught many of the monkey's ways. I can well believe it. Dogs reared with cats have been known to acquire the cat habit of licking the paws and then washing the ears and face. Wolves reared with dogs learn to bark, and who has not seen a dog draw its face as if trying to laugh as its master does? When a cat has been taught to sit up for its food, ...

— Ways of Nature • John Burroughs

... lived. When I looked out of the window, what with seeing the men and with the pain which shot through my leg from my ankle, I sank down on the floor in a kind of faint. How long I lay there I know not, but when I came to Kaiser was standing over me licking my face. When he saw me open my eyes and move he uttered a sort of a whine, half like a cry and half like a little laugh, and began wagging his tail. I put my arms around his neck and drew myself up so that I was ...

— Track's End • Hayden Carruth

... district. Lord, what will young fellows think if we stand for him! So I have kind of worked myself up," the Doctor smiled deprecatingly, "to a place where I seem to have a sacred duty in the matter of licking him for the sake of general decency. Anyway," he concluded in his high falsetto, "old Browning's diver, here, fits me. He goes down a pauper and, with his pearl, ...

— In the Heart of a Fool • William Allen White

... well fagged; yes, made to lie down in the dirt and lick a little of it, and fetch and carry. And to be kicked out of bed every morning and into bed every night would be the very best thing that could happen to 'em. By George, I should like to have the kicking and licking ...

— Trumps • George William Curtis

... answered Pepper. "If you do, I'll promise you another licking at the first chance ...

— The Mystery at Putnam Hall - The School Chums' Strange Discovery • Arthur M. Winfield

More quotes...