Dictionary.com

Popular Searches

 Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

licking

American  
[lik-ing] / ˈlɪk ɪŋ /

noun

  1. Informal.

    1. a beating or thrashing.

    2. a reversal or disappointment; defeat or setback.

  2. the act of a person or thing that licks.

licking British  
/ ˈlɪkɪŋ /

noun

  1. a beating

  2. a defeat

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • nonlicking adjective

Etymology

Origin of licking

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; lick, -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He loved tasting snow cakes, and he loved licking icicle pops.

From Literature

Rowdy sat down on his rear and started licking his wounds.

From Literature

England will be licking their lips at the opportunity to bounce back against Ireland on Saturday.

From BBC

I do damage control on my cookies and cream, licking around the circumference of the cone to avoid getting sticky, but it’s no use.

From Literature

Flames were licking the staircase, and the house was filled with smoke.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.