What does licking mean?
Licking most commonly means touching or moistening something with the tongue, often repeatedly: a cat may lick its paw, or a person may lick their lips before eating. The verb can also describe tasting a surface or food with the tongue. In informal English, it carries the stronger sense of a decisive defeat, as in saying that a team was licking its opponents, and it can mean to give someone a severe beating. These extended meanings make the word especially vivid in sports, arguments, and threats. The basic tongue-related sense is common in British and American English, while the more aggressive uses are especially characteristic of informal speech. Although the word is normally used as the present participle of lick, it also functions as a gerund and as a noun meaning a thorough defeat or beating.
To touch or moisten something with the tongue, usually repeatedly.
"The dog was licking the bowl clean."
This is the ordinary, literal sense and is neutral in register.
To defeat someone or another competitor decisively.
"The champions were licking their rivals in the second half."
Informal; usually implies a clear or one-sided victory.
To give someone a severe beating or punishment.
"He was warned that the police would be licking him if he refused to cooperate."
Informal and forceful, often used as a threat or warning.
A thorough defeat or severe beating.
"The team suffered a licking in the championship game."
Informal; more common in British and American colloquial speech.
The plural is used when referring to separate instances of defeat or punishment.
"The team suffered two heavy lickings that season."
From licking a bowl clean to being handed a crushing defeat, this small word has made a surprisingly large leap in meaning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does licking come from?
The word comes from Old English lician, meaning to lick or taste with the tongue. It belongs to a Germanic word family that includes related forms in languages such as German and Dutch. The more aggressive sense of a defeat developed much later through the idea of being beaten or overpowered. The noun sense 'a beating' follows from that extended meaning.
Related word forms
How licking is actually used
The basic sense is neutral and everyday. The senses meaning 'to defeat thoroughly' and 'to beat' are informal and often more humorous or threatening than neutral.
Easily confused with licking
This entry is the standard spelling for the act of touching or moistening with the tongue; no standard variant is generally used.