Meaning of the word licking in English

What does licking mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

licking

US /ˈlɪk.ɪŋ/
UK /ˈlɪk.ɪŋ/

Noun

1.

an act of passing the tongue over something

Example:
The dog gave my hand a quick licking.
He enjoyed the sweet licking of the ice cream cone.
2.

(informal) a severe defeat or beating

Example:
Our team took a real licking in the final game.
He gave the bully a good licking.

Verb

present participle of 'lick'

Example:
The cat was licking its paws clean.
Flames were licking at the dry wood.