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Definition of wick

wick

/wɪk/
wick
Plural:wicks
•
Past Simple:wicked
•
Past Participle:wicked
•
Present Participle:wicking
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wick Lexical Profile

wick Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A strip of porous material, such as cotton cord, that is lit to produce a flame in a candle or oil lamp, drawing fuel up to the flame via capillary action.

Example

"She trimmed the wick before lighting the candle to ensure it would burn evenly."

• verb

1

To absorb or draw off liquid by capillary action.

Example

"Modern athletic clothing is designed to wick sweat away from the body to keep the runner cool."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for wick

• Nearby Words

wiccan
wichita
wichita falls
wick
wicked
wickedly
wickedness

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'weoce' (meaning 'wick of a candle or lamp'), of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch 'wieke' and High German 'Wieche'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wick. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wick
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