Licking

Licking river, c.320 mi (515 km) long, rising in E Ky. and flowing NW to the Ohio River opposite Cincinnati; the North and South Forks are its chief tributaries. The Licking was an important means of travel for Native Americans and pioneers and later a busy trade route. In 1780, at the river's mouth, George Rogers Clark 's frontiersmen gathered for their march up the Little Miami; the battle of Blue Licks (1782) occurred in the Licking valley. Covington and Newport are located where the river meets the Ohio.

lick·ing / ˈliking/ • n. inf. a severe defeat or beating.

lick / lik/ • v. [tr.] 1. pass the tongue over (something), typically in order to taste, moisten, or clean it: he licked the stamp and stuck it on the envelope [intr.] he licked at his damaged hand with his tongue. ∎  [intr.] fig. (of a flame, wave, or breeze) move lightly and quickly like a tongue: the flames licked around the wood. 2. inf. defeat (someone) comprehensively: all right Mary, I know when I'm licked. ∎  thrash: she stands tall and could lick any man in the place. • n. 1. an act of licking something with the tongue: Sammy gave his fingers a long lick. ∎ fig. a movement of flame, water, etc., resembling this. 2. inf. a small amount or quick application of something, esp. paint: all she'd need to do to the kitchen was give it a lick of paint. 3. (often licks) inf. a short phrase or solo in jazz or popular music: cool guitar licks. 4. inf. a smart blow: his mother gave him several licks for daring to blaspheme. PHRASES: at a lick inf. at a fast pace; with considerable speed. a lick and a promise inf. a hasty performance of a task, esp. of cleaning something. lick someone's boots (or vulgar slang ass) be excessively obsequious toward someone, esp. to gain favor from them. lick someone/something into shapesee shape. lick one's lips (or chops) look forward to something with eager anticipation. lick one's wounds retire to recover one's strength or confidence after a defeat or humiliating experience: the political organization he worked for was licking its wounds after electoral defeat.DERIVATIVES: lick·er n. [usu. in combination] .