stick Definition

stick¹
noun

1a. A twig or thin branch of a tree;

Thesaurus: branch, twig, stem, stalk.
1b. colloq
The small hurdles of a steeplechase.
Form: sticks
2a. Any long thin piece of wood;
2b. A shaped piece of wood or other material which has a designated purpose;

Example: hockey stick
Example: gear stick
2c. A baton or wand, etc;
2d. A bow for a fiddle or the wooden part of a bow.
3. A long thin piece of anything.
4. A piece of furniture, especially when it is one of few.
5. colloq
Verbal abuse, criticism or mockery.
6. colloq
A rural area that is considered remote or unsophisticated.
Form: the sticks
7. colloq
A person.
Example: a funny old stick
8a. A group of bombs that are dropped from an aircraft one after the other over a target;
8b. A group of parachutists that are dropped from an aircraft one after the other.

verb

sticked, sticking
1. To support (a plant) using a stick or sticks.

Idiom: get hold of the wrong end of the stick

To misunderstand a situation, a statement, etc.

Idiom: give it some stick

colloq
To put some force or effort into something.

Idiom: give someone stick

To criticize or punish them.

Idiom: in a cleft stick

In a dangerous or tricky position.

Idiom: up sticks

colloq
To move away, especially without warning.
Example: He just upped sticks and left

Idiom: up the stick

slang
Pregnant.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon sticca.

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stick²
verb stuck, sticking

1a. To push or thrust (especially something long and thin or pointed);
1b. colloq
To push or protrude (a hand, head, foot, etc).
Example: stick your feet into your trainers
2. To fasten by piercing with a pin or other sharp object.

Example: stick it up with drawing-pins
tr & intr
3. To fix, or be or stay fixed, with an adhesive.

Thesaurus: adhere, cling, fasten, attach, cleave, cohere, hold; Antonym: loosen, let go.
intr
4. To remain persistently.

Example: an episode that sticks in my mind
tr & intr
5. To make or be unable to move; to jam, lock or lodge.

Example: The car got stuck in the snow
6. To confine.

Example: stuck in the house all day
intr
7. Said of criticism, etc: to continue to be considered valid.
8. colloq
To place or put.
Example: just stick it on the table
9. colloq
To bear or tolerate.
Example: could not stick it any longer
10. To cause to be at a loss; to baffle.

Example: He's never stuck for something to say

Idiom: be stuck on someone or something (get stuck into something)

See under stuck.

Idiom: stick at nothing

To act in a very ruthless manner.

Idiom: stick in one's throat

colloq
To be extremely difficult to say or accept, usually for reasons of principle.

Idiom: stick it! (stick it up your jumper, arse etc)

colloq
A contemptuous exclamation that is used when something is not wanted, not going one's way, etc.

Idiom: stick one's neck out (stick one's neck out for someone, stick one's neck out for something)

To put oneself in a dangerous or tricky position for them or it.

Idiom: stick one's nose in something (stick one's nose into something)

To interfere or pry, or to interfere with it or pry into it, especially when it is none of one's business.

Idiom: stick out a mile (stick out like a sore thumb)

To be glaringly obvious.

Idiom: stick something on someone

To put the blame for it onto them.

Idiom: stick to one's guns

To be adamant.

Etymology: 19c: from military use, literally ‘to stay in one's position when under attack'.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon stician.

Phrasal Verb: stick around

To remain or linger.

Phrasal Verb: stick at something

To continue doggedly with it.

Phrasal Verb: stick by someone or something

To remain loyal or supportive towards them or it.
Example: She sticks by him no matter what he does

Phrasal Verb: stick someone for something

To get them to pay for it.

Phrasal Verb: stick in

To start eating, etc.
Example: Stick in ― the soup's getting cold

Phrasal Verb: stick on

To put on (an item of clothing). See also stick-on.

Phrasal Verb: stick out

To project or protrude.
Example: His ears really stick out
To be obvious or noticeable; to stand out.To endure.
Example: had to stick out the winter with hardly any supplies

Phrasal Verb: stick out for something

To continue to insist on it; to refuse to yield.

Phrasal Verb: stick to something

To remain faithful to it, eg a promise.
Example: stuck to the same story throughout the questioning
To keep to it, eg a matter under discussion without digressing.

Phrasal Verb: stick together

To remain loyal and supportive, especially in the face of some difficulty.

Phrasal Verb: stick up

To project upwards; to stand up.To attach (a bill, poster, etc) to a wall, etc.To rob someone or something, especially at gunpoint. See also stick-up.
Example: stuck up the liquor store

Phrasal Verb: stick up for someone or oneself

To speak or act in their or one's own defence.
Example: quite capable of sticking up for myself

Phrasal Verb: stick someone with something

To burden them with it.
Example: stuck her mother with watching the baby while she went out