English Meaning & Definitions
The act of passing the tongue over a surface.
- “The dog gave the bowl a final licking to clean it.”
- “A quick licking was all it took to seal the envelope.”
An informal term for a heavy defeat or a physical beating.
- “Our team took a real licking in the championship game.”
- “The boxer took a severe licking before the referee stopped the fight.”
Present participle of the verb 'lick': passing the tongue over something.
- “The cat is sitting by the window, licking its paws.”
- “She was licking chocolate ice cream from her spoon.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “licking”.
Derived from the verb 'lick', which comes from Old English 'liccian' (of Germanic origin), ultimately from a root shared by Latin 'lingere' and Greek 'lih-'. The informal noun sense meaning 'a sound defeat' or 'a beating' dates back to the early 17th century.
Think of an ice cream cone: you are 'licking' it to enjoy every drop.
Frequently Asked Questions About “licking”
1. What is the meaning of “licking” in English?
In English, licking (noun) is defined as: “The act of passing the tongue over a surface.”.
2. How do you use “licking” in a sentence?
“The dog gave the bowl a final licking to clean it.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “licking”?
Derived from the verb 'lick', which comes from Old English 'liccian' (of Germanic origin), ultimately from a root shared by Latin 'lingere' and Greek 'lih-'. The informal noun sense meaning 'a sound defeat' or 'a beating' dates back to the early 17th century.
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