licking
licking Lexical Profile
licking Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To pass the tongue over a surface in order to taste, moisten, or clean it (present participle of lick).
"The cat sat on the sunny windowsill, quietly licking its paws."
To move lightly and quickly over a surface like a tongue (especially of flames or waves).
"Bright orange flames were soon licking the dry logs in the fireplace."
To overcome a difficult problem or decisively defeat an opponent (informal).
"After weeks of effort, the engineers are close to licking the software bug."
• noun
The act or an instance of passing the tongue over a surface, typically to taste, moisten, or clean it.
"The puppy greeted us at the door with a playful licking of our hands."
A decisive defeat in a game or contest, or a severe physical beating (informal).
"The home team took a terrible licking in the championship match."
• Rhymes for licking
Word Origin & Etymology
From the Old English verb 'liccian' (to pass the tongue over), of Proto-Germanic origin, combined with the gerund and participial suffix '-ing'.