\Lick\ (l[i^]k), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Licked} (l[i^]kt); p.
pr. & vb. n. {Licking}.] [AS. liccian; akin to OS. likk[=o]n,
D. likken, OHG. lecch[=o]n, G. lecken, Goth. bi-laig[=o]n,
Russ. lizate, L. lingere, Gr. lei`chein, Skr. lih, rih.
[root]121. Cf. {Lecher}, {Relish}.]
1. To draw or pass the tongue over; as, a dog licks his
   master's hand. --Addison.
2. To lap; to take in with the tongue; as, a dog or cat licks
   milk. --Shak.
{To lick the dust}, to be slain; to fall in battle. ``His
   enemies shall lick the dust.'' --Ps. lxxii. 9.
{To lick into shape}, to give proper form to; -- from a
   notion that the bear's cubs are born shapeless and
   subsequently formed by licking. --Hudibras.
{To lick the spittle of}, to fawn upon. --South.
{To lick up}, to take all of by licking; to devour; to
   consume entirely. --Shak. --Num. xxii. 4.

\Lick\, n. [See {Lick}, v.]
1. A stroke of the tongue in licking. ``A lick at the honey
   pot.'' --Dryden.
2. A quick and careless application of anything, as if by a
   stroke of the tongue, or of something which acts like a
   tongue; as, to put on colors with a lick of the brush.
   Also, a small quantity of any substance so applied.
   [Colloq.]
         A lick of court whitewash.            --Gray.
3. A place where salt is found on the surface of the earth,
   to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but
   not always, near salt springs. [U. S.]

\Lick\, v. t. [Cf. OSw. l["a]gga to place, strike, prick.]
To strike with repeated blows for punishment; to flog; to
whip or conquer, as in a pugilistic encounter. [Colloq. or
Low]

\Lick\, n.
A slap; a quick stroke.[Colloq.] ``A lick across the face.''
--Dryden.