26984 words

stick

26 definitions • 46 examples
1
a thin piece of wood or other material:

Examples:

The old man was carrying a load of sticks.
Police said that the child had been beaten with a stick.
Find some dry sticks and we'll make a campfire.
A lollipop is a sweet on a stick.
2
a long, thin wooden pole that especially old or injured people use to help them walk:

Examples:

walking stick He left the clinic looking frail and using a walking stick.
At 84 he's still quite active, although he walks with the aid of a stick.
3
a long, thin piece of wood used in playing various sports:

Examples:

a hockey/lacrosse/polo stick
4
a long, thin piece of something:

Examples:

5
a car with a stick shift:

Examples:

Do you drive a stick?
6

Examples:

When they got married, they didn't have a stick of furniture.
7
to hit someone or something with a long, thin piece of wood:

Examples:

He said that when he was a boy, his father used to take a stick to him to punish him.
8

Examples:

get/take stick I really got/took stick from my boss about being late for work again.
give someone stick We gave him some stick for wearing that silly hat.
9
an area in the countryside that is far from a town or city:

Examples:

in the sticks I'm sick of living in the sticks.
10
to cause something to become fixed, for example with glue or another similar substance:

Examples:

I tried to stick the pieces together with some glue/tape.
stick something up with something He stuck up an announcement on the board with pins.
This glue won't stick.
be stuck in My car's stuck in the mud.
stick to Stir the sauce so that it doesn't stick to the pan.
stick together My book got wet and all the pages have stuck together.
11
If a name sticks, it continues to be used:

Examples:

Although her name is Clare, her little sister called her Lali, and somehow the name stuck.
12
to put something somewhere, especially in a not very careful way:

Examples:

"Where shall I put these books?" "Oh, just stick them on the table for now."
She stuck her fingers in her ears so that she couldn't hear the noise.
I'll pay for lunch - I can stick it on my expenses.
13
If you tell someone to stick something or where they can stick something, it means that you do not want to keep that thing:

Examples:

"I've had enough of working here," she said, "You can stick your job!"
14
to push a pointed object into or through something, or (of a pointed object) to be pushed into or through something and stay there:

Examples:

stick something into something She stuck the needle into my arm.
stick something in something We decided where to go for our holiday by closing our eyes and sticking a pin in the map.
stick in A thorn stuck in her finger.
stick through The metal springs were sticking through the mattress.
15
In some card games, if you stick, you say that you do not want to be given any more cards.
16
to bear or accept something or someone unpleasant:

Examples:

I don't think I can stick this job a day longer.
[ + -ing verb ] I don't know how you can stick living in this place.
17
a thin piece of wood:

Examples:

The campers collected sticks to start a fire.
18
A stick is also a long, thin handle with a specially shaped end, used esp. to play hockey and lacrosse.
19
A stick can also be a long, thin piece of something:

Examples:

a stick of chewing gum
20
to push something pointed into or through something, or to be pushed into or through something:

Examples:

[ T ] I simply cannot watch when someone sticks a needle in my arm.
[ I ] He throws the knife, and the blade sticks in the wall.
21

Examples:

[ T ] Stick the tape to the back of the picture.
[ I ] It was so hot that my clothes stuck to me.
22
to put something somewhere, usually temporarily:

Examples:

Stick the packages under the table for now.
23
If you stick out your tongue, you push your tongue out of your mouth, usually as an insult:

Examples:

She stuck her tongue out at him and smiled.
24
to be fixed in position and unable to move:

Examples:

The window sticks, making it hard to shut it.
25
to fasten something somewhere, for example with glue:

Examples:

stick sth on/onto sth Stick these labels on the top of the boxes.
stick sth up (with sth) He stuck up a notice on the board with pins.
26
to stay at the same level or position for a long time:

Examples:

stick/be stuck at sth The bank's main money market rate has been stuck at 4.50% for eight weeks.
The needle on the oil gauge keeps sticking.

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