lick
I
 /ˈlık/  verb  , licks, licked, lick·ing
  1 : to pass the tongue over (a surface, an object, etc.)
   [  + obj  ] He licked the stamp before putting it on the envelope.
    The dog licked my cheek. = The dog licked me on the cheek.
   [  no obj  ] The dog licked at the plate.
  2 [  + obj  ] : to take (something) into your mouth with your tongue
   She licked the sauce off her finger.
   The cat licked the milk off/from her paws.
  3 : to lightly touch or go over (a surface)
   [  + obj  ] Flames were already licking the ceiling.
   [  no obj  ] Flames were already licking at/against the ceiling.
  4 [  + obj  ] informal
  4 a : to defeat (someone) in a fight or contest
   He's pretty big, but I think I can lick him.
  4 b : to solve (a problem)
   Engineers think they have licked the problem with the rocket engine.
  lick someone's boots
    informal + disapproving   : to treat someone powerful with too much respect in order to get approval
    He's just the assistant to the manager, there's no need to lick his boots.
  lick your lips
   1 : to pass your tongue over your lips
    She licked her lips while she waited for the food to be served.
   2  or US   lick your chops : to feel or show excitement because something good is expected to happen
    The players knew they would win and were licking their chops as they waited for the game to start.
  lick your wounds
   : to recover from defeat or disappointment
    He went home to lick his wounds after losing the election.
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II
  noun  ,  pl   licks [  count  ]
  1 : the act of passing your tongue over something : the act of licking something
   He gave the bowl a lick. [=he licked the bowl]
   Could I have a lick of your ice cream?
  2 informal : a small amount : bit
   It just needs a lick of paint.
  — often used in negative statements in U.S. English
   She couldn't swim a lick. [=she couldn't swim at all]
   He hasn't done a lick of work. [=he hasn't done any work]
   She thinks he isn't worth a lick. [=she thinks he is worthless]
  3 informal : a hard hit
   a football player who has taken a lot of licks [=who has been hit hard many times]
  — often used figuratively in U.S. English
   He said some pretty harsh things to her, but she got in a few licks herself. [=she also said some harsh things to him]
   The movie has taken its licks from the critics. [=has been harshly reviewed by the critics]
  4 informal : a very short part of a piece of music
   guitar licks
  a lick and a promise
   1 US : a quick and careless attempt to do something
    They gave the budget problems a lick and a promise and then moved on to the next issue.
   2 Brit : the act of washing something quickly or carelessly
    He gave the car a lick and a promise.