1an act of licking something with the tongue:Sammy gave his fingers a lick
a quick movement of flame, water, etc.:a tiny lick of flame flickered round the mouth of the flame-thrower
2 informal a light coating or quick application of something, especially paint:she needed to give the kitchen a lick of paint
[in singular, usually with negative]US an extremely small amount of something abstract:there’s not a lick of suspense in the entire plot
3 informal a short phrase or solo in jazz or popular music:cool guitar licks
4 informal a smart blow:his mother gave him several licks for daring to blaspheme
ზმნა
Universal
1pass the tongue over (something) in order to taste, moisten, or clean it:he licked the stamp and stuck it on the envelope
[no object, with adverbial of direction] (of a flame, wave, or breeze) move lightly and quickly like a tongue:the flames licked around the wood
2 informal overcome (a person or problem) decisively:all right Mary, I know when I’m lickedthe Chancellor said that the government had inflation licked
beat or thrash (someone):she stands tall and could lick any man in the place
(lick someone/thing down) West Indian cut or knock someone or something down:the boy was quiet, but if you cross he path, he lick you down
at a lick
informal at a fast pace:the hearse was going at a fair lick for that normally sedate vehicle
a lick and a promise
informal an act of cleaning or washing something in a hasty manner:she would give a lick and a promise to her parlour, and sit down to await the American gentleman
