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- Licking - meaning & definition
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ˈlɪkɪŋ
Meaning & Definition
noun
The act of licking.
The puppy gave a few excited lickings before he settled down.
A light touch or brief contact.
The licking of the waves against the shore was soothing.
verb
The action of moving the tongue across a surface to taste, moisten, or clean it.
The dog was licking its paw after a long walk.
To pass the tongue over something in a repeated manner.
She was licking her ice cream cone before it started to drip.
To touch lightly or gently, as if with the tongue.
The flames were licking at the sides of the wooden cabin.
Etymology
Derived from Old English 'liccian', meaning 'to lick'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
licking your wounds
To try to recover after a defeat or setback.
lacking luster
Not having the shine or brilliance; dull.
get licked
To receive a beating or punishment.
Related Words
lick
To touch or move the tongue across something.
licker
A person or animal that licks.
lickable
Suitable to be licked.
Slang Meanings
To defeat decisively in a competition.
They got licked in the finals.
To consume something quickly or greedily.
He licked his plate clean after dinner.