licking

lick-ing · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (Informal) A severe defeat or beating.

  2. 2.

    Present participle of lick; the action of passing the tongue over something.

Forms

plural: lickings

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    take a licking and keep on ticking — to endure hardship and continue functioning (from a famous watch advertisement)

Related words

See also: beating, lick, licked
Synonyms: beating, defeat, thrashing

Etymology

From Old English liccian ("to lick"), with the suffix -ing forming the present participle and verbal noun.