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Definition of stick

stick

/stɪk/
stick

Plural:sticks
•
Adjective:sticky
•
Past Simple:stuck
•
Past Participle:stuck
•
Present Participle:sticking
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stick Lexical Profile

stick Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A short, slender branch or piece of wood that has fallen or been cut from a tree or shrub.

Example

"The dog eagerly chased the stick that I threw into the lake."


2

A long, thin implement or instrument used for a specific purpose, such as a walking aid or sports equipment.

Example

"He grabbed his hockey stick and headed to the ice rink for morning practice."


3

A remote, rural, or unsophisticated geographical area, typically used in the plural phrase 'the sticks'.

Example

"After living in the bustling city for a decade, they decided to buy a quiet house out in the sticks."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To adhere, cling, or become attached to a surface, often by means of a substance like glue or tape.

Example

"Make sure you press firmly so the wet label will stick to the glass jar."


2

To push a sharp or pointed object into or through something.

Example

"The nurse warned me that she was about to stick the needle into my arm."


3

To remain fixed, jammed, or unable to move freely in a particular position.

Example

"The old wooden drawer tends to stick during the humid summer months."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for stick

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'sticca' (peg, twig) and 'stician' (to pierce, remain fixed), derived from Proto-Germanic '*stikkon-' and '*stikanan', stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root '*steig-' meaning 'to stick, point, or pierce'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Stick. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/stick
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