stick Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an implement consisting of a length of wood
    • he collected dry sticks for a campfire
    • the kid had a candied apple on a stick
  2. noun a small thin branch of a tree
  3. noun a lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplane
    joystick; control stick.
  4. noun a rectangular quarter pound block of butter or margarine
  5. noun informal terms for the leg
    peg; pin.
    • fever left him weak on his sticks
  6. noun a long implement (usually made of wood) that is shaped so that hockey or polo players can hit a puck or ball
  7. noun a long thin implement resembling a length of wood
    • cinnamon sticks
    • a stick of dynamite
  8. noun marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking
    joint; spliff; reefer; marijuana cigarette.
  9. noun threat of a penalty
    • the policy so far is all stick and no carrot
  10. verb put, fix, force, or implant
    lodge; wedge; deposit.
    • lodge a bullet in the table
    • stick your thumb in the crack
  11. verb stay put (in a certain place); we are not moving to Cincinnati"
    stick around; stay put; stay.
    • We are staying in Detroit
    • Stay put in the corner here!
    • Stick around and you will learn something!
  12. verb stick to firmly
    bind; stick to; hold fast; adhere; bond.
    • Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?
  13. verb be or become fixed
    • The door sticks--we will have to plane it
  14. verb endure
    • The label stuck to her for the rest of her life
  15. verb be a devoted follower or supporter
    adhere.
    • The residents of this village adhered to Catholicism
    • She sticks to her principles
  16. verb be loyal to
    stick by; stand by; adhere.
    • She stood by her husband in times of trouble
    • The friends stuck together through the war
  17. verb cover and decorate with objects that pierce the surface
    • stick some feathers in the turkey before you serve it
  18. verb fasten with an adhesive material like glue
    • stick the poster onto the wall
  19. verb fasten with or as with pins or nails
    • stick the photo onto the corkboard
  20. verb fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something
    • stick the corner of the sheet under the mattress
  21. verb pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument
    • he stuck the cloth with the needle
  22. verb pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed
    • He stuck the needle into his finger
  23. verb come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
    cohere; cleave; cling; adhere.
    • The dress clings to her body
    • The label stuck to the box
    • The sushi rice grains cohere
  24. verb saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous
    sting.
    • They stuck me with the dinner bill
    • I was stung with a huge tax bill
  25. verb be a mystery or bewildering to
    mystify; perplex; bewilder; get; beat; puzzle; pose; amaze; vex; baffle; flummox; stupefy; gravel; nonplus; dumbfound.
    • This beats me!
    • Got me--I don't know the answer!
    • a vexing problem
    • This question really stuck me

WordNet

Stick noun
Etymology
OE. sticke, AS. sticca; akin to stician to stab, prick, pierce, G. stecken a stick, staff, OHG. steccho, Icel. stik a stick. See Stick, v. t..
Definitions
  1. A small shoot, or branch, separated, as by a cutting, from a tree or shrub; also, any stem or branch of a tree, of any size, cut for fuel or timber.
    Withered sticks to gather, which might serve Against a winter's day. Milton.
  2. Any long and comparatively slender piece of wood, whether in natural form or shaped with tools; a rod; a wand; a staff; as, the stick of a rocket; a walking stick.
  3. Anything shaped like a stick; as, a stick of wax.
  4. A derogatory expression for a person; one who is inert or stupid; as, an odd stick; a poor stick. Colloq.
  5. (Print.) A composing stick. See under Composing. It is usually a frame of metal, but for posters, handbills, etc., one made of wood is used.
  6. A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab.
Stick transitive verb
Etymology
OE. stikien, v.t. & i., combined with steken, whence E. stuck), AS. stician, v.t. & i., and (assumed) stecan, v.t.; akin to OFries. steka, OS. stekan, OHG. stehhan, G. stechen, and to Gr. to prick, Skr. tij to be sharp. Cf. Distinguish, Etiquette, Extinct, Instigate, Instinct, Prestige, Stake, Steak, Stick, n., Stigma, Stimulate, Sting, Stitch in sewing, Style for or in writing.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Stuck (obsolete Sticked ); present participle & verbal noun Sticking
Definitions
  1. To penetrate with a pointed instrument; to pierce; to stab; hence, to kill by piercing; as, to stick a beast.
    And sticked him with bodkins anon. Chaucer.
    It was a shame . . . to stick him under the other gentleman's arm while he was redding the fray. Sir W. Scott.
  2. To cause to penetrate; to push, thrust, or drive, so as to pierce; as, to stick a needle into one's finger.
    Thou stickest a dagger in me. Shak.
  3. To fasten, attach, or cause to remain, by thrusting in; hence, also, to adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing; as, to stick a pin on the sleeve.
    My shroud of white, stuck all with yew. Shak.
    The points of spears are stuck within the shield. Dryden.
  4. To set; to fix in; as, to stick card teeth.
  5. To set with something pointed; as, to stick cards.
  6. To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale; as, to stick an apple on a fork.
  7. To attach by causing to adhere to the surface; as, to stick on a plaster; to stick a stamp on an envelope; also, to attach in any manner.
  8. (Print.) To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick; as, to stick type. Cant
  9. (Joinery) To run or plane (moldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such moldings are said to be stuck.
  10. To cause to stick; to bring to a stand; to pose; to puzzle; as, to stick one with a hard problem. Colloq.
  11. To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat. Slang
Stick intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To adhere; as, glue sticks to the fingers; paste sticks to the wall.
    The green caterpillar breedeth in the inward parts of roses not blown, where the dew sticketh. Bacon.
  2. To remain where placed; to be fixed; to hold fast to any position so as to be moved with difficulty; to cling; to abide; to cleave; to be united closely.
    A friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Prov. xviii. 24.
    I am a kind of bur; I shall stick. Shak.
    If on your fame our sex a bolt has thrown, 'T will ever stick through malice of your own. Young.
  3. To be prevented from going farther; to stop by reason of some obstacle; to be stayed.
    I had most need of blessing, and "Amen" Stuck in my throat. Shak.
    The trembling weapon passed Through nine bull hides, . . . and stuck within the last. Dryden.
  4. To be embarrassed or puzzled; to hesitate; to be deterred, as by scruples; to scruple; -- often with at.
    They will stick long at part of a demonstration for want of perceiving the connection of two ideas. Locke.
    Some stick not to say, that the parson and attorney forged a will. Arbuthnot.
  5. To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.
    This is the difficulty that sticks with the most reasonable. Swift.

Webster 1913