verb / noun
lick
LIK/lɪk/
The act of passing the tongue over something.
The woman licks the curved surface of the ice-cream scoop.
Etymology
Old English liccian already described passing the tongue over a surface, including lapping or licking something up. The selected meaning preserves that physical action.
In context
Sometimes, moose cow will permit friends to lick the newborns. This other female gave birth several days ago and she still has an instinctive eagerness to lick calves.
More examples
- He gives his ice cream a quick lick.
- She licked the envelope flap to seal it.
- The children are licking frosting off their fingers.
Forms
lick · licks · licked · licking
Similar words
- lap
- Lap usually means taking up liquid with the tongue.