Definition of 'stick'
Word forms: plural sticks
2. countable noun
A stick is a long thin piece of wood which is used for supporting someone's weight or for
hitting people or animals.
3. See also carrot and stick
6. countable noun [noun NOUN]
7. uncountable noun
[British, informal]
8. plural noun
9.
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word forms: 3rd person singular present tense sticks
, present participle sticking
, past tense, past participle stuck
1. verb
[informal]
2. verb
If you stick a pointed object in something, or if it sticks in something, it goes into it or through it by making a cut or hole.
3. verb
If something is sticking out from a surface or object, it extends up or away from it. If something is sticking into a surface or object, it is partly in it.
...when we see her with lots of tubes and needles sticking into her little body. [VERB adverb/preposition]
4. verb
If you stick one thing to another, you attach it using glue, sticky tape, or another sticky substance.
7. verb
If you give someone or something a name and the name sticks, it becomes the name which most people use to refer to that person or thing.
8. verb [no cont, with brd-neg]
If someone manages to make a charge or accusation stick, they show that the person accused is guilty of the crime or action they are accused of.
10. verb
If you are in an unpleasant or difficult situation and you say that you cannot stick it, you mean that you cannot bear to remain there long.
[British, informal]
11. See also stuck
12.
Phrasal verbs:
See stick around
See stick at
See stick by
See stick out
See stick out for
See stick to
See stick together
See stick up for
See stick with
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
You may also like
Word Frequency
stick in British English 1
noun
1.
a small thin branch of a tree
2.
a.
any long thin piece of wood
b.
such a piece of wood having a characteristic shape for a special purpose
a walking stick
a hockey stick
3.
an object or piece shaped like a stick
a stick of celery
a stick of dynamite
4. See control stick
8.
a.
a group of bombs arranged to fall at intervals across a target
b.
a number of paratroops jumping in sequence
9. slang
b.
physical power, force (esp in the phrase give it some stick)
10. (usually plural)
a piece of furniture
these few sticks are all I have
12. (plural) Canadian West Coast and Northwest Canada informal
the wooded interior part of the country
16.
a means of coercion
18. (usually preceded by old) informal
a person
not a bad old stick
19. See in a cleft stick
20. See wrong end of the stick
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English sticca; related to Old Norse stikka, Old High German steccaWord Frequency
stick in British English 2
verbWord forms: sticks, sticking, stuck
2.
to thrust or push (a sharp or pointed object) or (of a sharp or pointed object) to
be pushed into or through another object
3. (transitive)
to fasten in position by pushing or forcing a point into something
to stick a peg in a hole
4. (transitive)
to fasten in position by or as if by pins, nails, etc
to stick a picture on the wall
7. (when intr, foll by out, up, through, etc)
to put forward or be put forward; protrude or cause to protrude
to stick one's head out of the window
8. (transitive) informal
to place or put in a specified position
stick your coat on this chair
9.
to fasten or be fastened by or as if by an adhesive substance
stick the pages together
they won't stick
11. (when tr, usually passive)
to come or cause to come to a standstill
we were stuck for hours in a traffic jam
the wheels stuck
12. (intransitive)
to remain for a long time
the memory sticks in my mind
15. (tr; usually passive) informal
I was totally stuck for an answer
16. (transitive) slang
to force or impose something unpleasant on
they stuck me with the bill for lunch
18. See stick in one's throat
19. See stick one's nose into
20. See stick to the ribs
noun
21.
the state or condition of adhering
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin
Old English stician; related to Old High German stehhan to sting, Old Norse steikja to roast on a spit
Word Frequency
stick in American English
noun
1.
a long, usually slender piece of wood
; specif.,a.
a twig or small branch broken off or cut off, esp. a dead and dry one
b.
a tree branch of any size, used for fuel, etc.
c.
a long, slender, and usually tapering piece of wood shaped for a specific purpose,
as a wand, staff, club, baton, cane, rod, etc.
2.
a stalk, as of celery
4.
a separate item; article
every stick of furniture
6.
something made of sticks, as a racing hurdle
7.
a sticking, as with a pointed weapon; stab
8.
anything, as a threat, used in compelling another
9.
10.
a number of bombs, parachutists, etc. dropped from the air in such a way as to fall
in a line across a target area
15. Nautical
a mast or a part of a mast
16. Printing
a composing stick or its contents
verb transitiveWord forms: stuck, sticked, ˈsticking
17.
to pierce or puncture, as with a pointed instrument
18.
to kill by piercing; stab
19.
to pierce something with (a knife, pin, etc.)
20.
to thrust or push (in, into, out, etc.)
to stick one's finger into a hole
21.
to set with piercing objects
a cushion stuck with pins
22.
a.
to fasten or attach as by gluing, pinning, etc.
to stick a poster on a wall
b.
to decorate with things fastened in this way
23.
a.
to transfix or impale
b.
to impale (insect specimens, etc.), as on a pin, and mount for exhibit
24.
usually used in the passive
the wheels were stuck; we were stuck in town
26. Informal
to place; put; set
28. Informal
to puzzle; baffle
to be stuck by a question
29. Slang
a.
to make pay, often exorbitantly
b.
verb intransitive
31.
to be or remain fixed or embedded by a pointed end, as a nail, etc.
32.
to be or remain attached by adhesion; adhere; cleave
33.
a.
to remain in the same place; stay; abide
they stick at home
b.
to remain fixed in the memory
c.
to remain in effect
to make the charges stick
35.
to keep close
to stick to a trail
38.
to become fixed, blocked, lodged, etc. as by an obstacle
; specif.,
c.
to become stopped or delayed; come to a standstill
a bill stuck in committee
39.
to be puzzled
41.
to protrude, project, or extend (out, up, through, etc.)
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: stick is the simple, general term here, implying attachment by gluing or fastening together
in any way, by close association, etc. [to stick a stamp on a letter, to stick to a subject]; adhere implies firm attachment and, of persons, denotes voluntary allegiance or devotion
as to an idea, cause, or leader [to adhere to a policy]; cohere implies such close sticking together of parts as to form a single mass [glue made the particles of sawdust cohere]; cling implies attachment by embracing, entwining, or grasping with the arms, tendrils,
etc. [a vine clinging to the trellis]; cleave2 is a poetic or lofty term implying a very close, firm attachment [my tongue cleaved to the roof of my mouth; Ruth cleaved to Naomi] OPPOSITES: part, detach, separate
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word Frequency
stick in American English 1
(stɪk) (verb sticked, sticking)
noun
1.
a branch or shoot of a tree or shrub that has been cut or broken off
2.
a relatively long and slender piece of wood
3.
a long piece of wood for use as fuel, in carpentry, etc
4.
a rod or wand
5.
a baton
6. chiefly Brit
a walking stick or cane
7.
a club or cudgel
8.
The threat of unemployment was the stick that kept the workers toiling overtime
Compare carrot (sense 3)9.
a long, slender piece or part of anything
a stick of candy
sticks of celery
12. Aeronautics
a lever, usually with a handle, by which the longitudinal and lateral motions of an airplane are controlled
15. See the sticks
16. Military
a.
a group of bombs so arranged as to be released in a row across a target
b.
the bomb load
18. slang
a marijuana cigarette
21. See short end of the stick
transitive verb
22.
to furnish (a plant, vine, etc.) with a stick or sticks in order to prop or support
23. Printing
to set (type) in a composing stick
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
stickless adjective
sticklike
adjective
Word origin
[bef. 1000; ME stikke, OE sticca; akin to OHG stehho, ON stik stick; akin to stick2]Word Frequency
stick in American English 2
(stɪk) (verb stuck, sticking)
transitive verb
1.
to stick one's finger with a needle
2.
to kill by this means
to stick a pig
3.
to thrust (something pointed) in, into, through, etc
to stick a needle into a pincushion
4.
to fasten in position by thrusting a point or end into something
to stick a peg in a pegboard
5.
to fasten in position by or as if by something thrust through
to stick a painting on the wall
6.
to put on or hold with something pointed; impale
to stick a marshmallow on a fork
7.
to decorate or furnish with things piercing the surface
to stick a cushion full of pins
8.
to furnish or adorn with things attached or set here and there
to stick shelves full of knickknacks
9.
to place upon a stick or pin for exhibit
to stick butterflies
11.
to place or set in a specified position; put
Stick the chair in the corner
12.
to fasten or attach by causing to adhere
to stick a stamp on a letter
13. (usually used in the passive)
to bring to a standstill; render unable to proceed or go back
The car was stuck in the mud
14. Carpentry
to start (a nail)
16. chiefly Brit informal
to tolerate; endure
He couldn't stick the job more than three days
17.
He was stuck by the very first problem on the test
18. informal
to impose something disagreeable upon (a person or persons), as a large bill or a
difficult task
The committee persistently stuck him with fund collection
19. informal
to cheat
intransitive verb
21.
to have the point piercing or embedded in something
The arrow stuck in the tree
22.
to remain attached by adhesion
23.
to hold, cleave, or cling
The young rider stuck to the back of his terrified horse
24.
to remain persistently or permanently
a fact that sticks in the mind
25.
to remain firm, as in resolution, opinion, statement, or attachment; hold faithfully, as to a promise or bargain
26.
to keep or remain steadily or unremittingly, as to a task, undertaking, or the like
to stick to a job until it is finished
27.
Her zipper stuck halfway up
28.
to be at a standstill, as from difficulties
I'm stuck on this problem
30. (usually fol. by through, from, out, up, etc.)
to be thrust or placed so as to extend, project, or protrude
31. See stick around
32. See stick by
33. See stick it
34. See stick it to (someone)
35. See stick it out
36. See stick it up your ass
37. See stick one's neck out
38. See stick out
39. See stick to one's guns
40. See stick to the ribs
41. See stick up
42. See stick up for
noun
SYNONYMS 1. penetrate, spear. 6. transfix. 9. pin. 12. glue, cement, paste. 22. stick, adhere, cohere mean to cling to or be tightly attached to something. adhere implies that one kind of material clings tenaciously to another; cohere adds the idea that a thing is attracted to and held by something like itself: Particles of sealing wax cohere and form a mass that will adhere to tin. stick, a more colloquial and general term, is used particularly when a third kind of material
is involved: A gummed label will stick to a package. 29. stickle, waver, doubt.43.
a thrust with a pointed instrument; stab
44.
a stoppage or standstill
45.
something causing delay or difficulty
46.
the quality of adhering or of causing things to adhere
47.
something causing adhesion
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
stickable adjective
stickability
noun
Examples of 'stick' in a sentence
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In other languages
stick
British English: stick
/stɪk/ NOUN
A stick is a long, thin piece of wood.
She put some dry sticks on the fire.
- American English: stick /ˈstɪk/
- Arabic: عَصَا
- Brazilian Portuguese: pau
- Chinese: 棒
- Croatian: štap
- Czech: klacek
- Danish: pind
- Dutch: stok
- European Spanish: palo
- Finnish: keppi
- French: bâton
- German: Stock
- Greek: κλαρί
- Italian: bastone
- Japanese: 棒切れ
- Korean: 나뭇가지
- Norwegian: pinne
- Polish: patyk
- European Portuguese: pau
- Romanian: băț
- Russian: прут
- Latin American Spanish: palo
- Swedish: pinne
- Thai: ไม้เท้า
- Turkish: sopa çubuk
- Ukrainian: палиця
- Vietnamese: thanh
British English: stick
/stɪk/ VERB
If you stick one thing to another, you join them together using glue.
Now stick your picture on a piece of paper.
- American English: stick /ˈstɪk/
- Arabic: يَلْتَصِقُ
- Brazilian Portuguese: colar
- Chinese: 随手将某物放进某物
- Croatian: zabosti
- Czech: slepit
- Danish: stikke
- Dutch: plakken
- European Spanish: pegar adherir
- Finnish: työntyä
- French: coller
- German: kleben
- Greek: κολλάω
- Italian: conficcare
- Japanese: 突き刺さる
- Korean: 찔리다
- Norwegian: stikke (inn i)
- Polish: wbić się
- European Portuguese: colar
- Romanian: a lipi
- Russian: склеивать
- Latin American Spanish: pegar
- Swedish: sticka trästicka
- Thai: ติดด้วยกาว
- Turkish: yapışmak
- Ukrainian: приклеювати
- Vietnamese: dán
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Definition of stick from the Collins English Dictionary
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