Stick | Mean of stick in English Dictionary

/ˈstɪk/

• Noun
• a cut or broken branch or twig
1. They collected dry sticks for the campfire.
2. a pile of sticks
• a long, thin piece of wood, metal, plastic, etc., that is used for a particular purpose
1. He served pieces of fruit on sticks.
2. a candied apple on a stick
3. a measuring/hiking stick
• a long, thin object that is used for hitting or moving a ball or puck in a game
1. a hockey/lacrosse stick

• a stick that is used as a weapon
1. You know the old saying: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words/names can/will never hurt me.”
2. The minister's inappropriate comments gave his opponents a new stick with which to beat him.
• something that is long and thin like a stick
1. He has sticks for legs.
2. cinnamon/carrot/celery sticks
3. a stick of dynamite
• a long piece of something that is usually wrapped in paper, plastic, etc.
1. a stick of gum/butter
• a solid substance that is sold in a tall container which is open at the top
1. a glue stick
2. a stick of deodorant
• an area in the country that is far away from towns and cities
1. We live way out in the sticks. [=the boonies, the boondocks]
• punishment or the threat of punishment that is used to try to persuade someone to do something
1. She'll have to choose between the carrot and the stick.
2. They say that a carrot works better than a stick.
3. The administration was criticized for its carrot-and-stick approach to foreign policy.
• to start working hard at something that you have been avoiding doing
1. You'd better get on the stick with those college applications!
• something that is used to attack or punish someone or to make an attack or punishment seem reasonable or right
1. The fee is just another stick with which to beat the unions.
2. These charges have given her opponents a new stick to beat her with.
• unfair or unfavorable treatment
1. She got the short end of the stick in the deal.
• an incorrect understanding of something
1. You've got (hold of) the wrong end of the stick. He didn't push me; I fell.
• to pack up your belongings and move to a different place
1. They upped sticks and left for London.
• Verb
• to push (something usually sharp or pointed) into something
1. He stuck a toothpick in/into the sandwich.
2. The jacket was too thick to stick a pin through.
3. The nurse stuck the needle into the patient's leg.
4. Stick these candles in the birthday cake.
• to go partly into something
1. The thorn stuck in the dog's paw.
2. The spears stuck into the ground.
3. The victim was found with a knife sticking out of her back.
4. darts sticking out of the wall
5. I saw a letter sticking (out) from his pocket. = I saw a letter sticking out of his pocket.
• to put (something or someone) in a specified place
1. He stuck [=tucked] the pencil behind his ear.
2. The dog stuck its head out the window.
3. She stuck [=pushed] the letter under the door.
4. She stuck [=reached] her hand into the box and pulled out a piece of paper.
5. The librarian stuck [=put] the book back on its shelf.
6. The little girl stuck her fingers in the batter.
7. The photographer stuck the shorter people in the front row.
8. The deer stuck its nose up in the air.
9. He pointed the gun at me and said “stick 'em up.” [=put your hands up in the air]
• to attach (something) to a surface with glue, tape, pins, etc.
1. She stuck two stamps on the letter.
2. He stuck a note (up) on the door.
3. She stuck the pieces of wood together with glue.
• to become attached to the surface of something
1. The suction cup wouldn't stick.
2. Several pages had stuck together.
3. Spray the pan with oil to keep the biscuits from sticking.
4. The peanut butter stuck to the knife.
5. Magnets stick to steel.
6. The glue had stuck to her fingers.
• to become difficult or impossible to move from a place or position
1. The door's handle has a tendency to stick.
2. That door always sticks.
3. Her foot stuck in the mud.
4. A piece of food stuck [=lodged] in her throat.
5. His words stuck in my mind. [=I remembered his words]
6. One of the kids called him “Stretch,” and the name stuck. [=everyone started calling him “Stretch”]
7. You can charge them with fraud, but you'll need more evidence if you want to make it stick. [=if you want them to be legally punished for fraud]
• to deal with or accept (an unpleasant situation, experience, person, etc.)
1. He couldn't stick the new job.
2. How can you stick being there all the time?
3. She can't stick his friends. [=she strongly dislikes his friends]
• to stay somewhere especially in order to wait for something or someone
1. Stick around. The band should start playing soon.
2. If you stick around, you can meet my girlfriend.
• to continue doing or trying to do something
1. If you stick at it [=keep at it] long enough, you'll succeed.
• to be willing to do anything in order to get or achieve something
1. She'll stick at nothing [=stop at nothing] to get what she wants.
• to continue to support or be loyal to (someone or something)
1. The troops stuck by [=stood by] their general to the end.
2. She stuck by [=stood by] her husband throughout the trial.
3. I stick by my promise. [=I still will do what I promised]
4. He stuck by what he said earlier.
• to treat (someone) harshly or unfairly especially in order to get something for yourself (such as revenge or money)
1. Her political rivals used the scandal as an opportunity to stick it to her.
2. businesses that stick it to consumers by charging high fees
3. The government is really sticking it to the taxpayers.
• to stay very firmly attached to something
1. Wash the egg off before it dries, or it will stick like glue.
2. One of the kids called him “Stretch,” and the nickname stuck (to him) like glue. [=everyone started calling him by that nickname]
• to stay very close to someone
1. Her dog always stuck to her like glue.
2. The two friends stick (together) like glue.
• to extend outward beyond an edge or surface
1. His ears stick out. [=they extend outward more than most people's ears]
2. A peninsula sticks out from the shore into the bay.
• to extend (something, such as a body part) outward
1. She said “hello,” and stuck her hand out.
2. He stuck out his chest and walked away.
3. She was sitting with her feet stuck out in the aisle.
4. Stick out your tongue and say “ah.”
• to be easily seen or recognized
1. You will certainly stick out [=stand out] with that orange hat.
• to be better or more important than the other people or things in a group in a way that is easily seen or noticed
1. Only one contestant really sticks out [=stands out] in my mind.
2. Two facts stick out from her testimony.
• to continue doing (something unpleasant or difficult)
1. She stuck the job out for the remainder of the summer.
2. Though the home team was down by 20 points, a few fans stuck it out [=stayed and watched the game] until the very end.
• to refuse to accept or agree to something in order to get (something)
1. The strikers are sticking out for [=holding out for] higher pay.
• to continue doing or using (something) especially when it is difficult to do so
1. She stuck to her story about the money already being missing when she got there.
2. Please stick to the script/subject/rules.
3. Stick to the marked trails.
4. If you want to succeed, you've got to stick to it! [=keep trying, working, etc.]
5. I intend to stick to my promise/word.
6. She's sticking to her decision to retire.
• to continue to support each other
1. Families need to stick together.
• to extend upward above a surface
1. The baby's hair sticks (straight) up.
2. A large rock was sticking up in the middle of the river.
• to defend (someone) against attack or criticism
1. He stuck up for his friend.
2. She stuck up for herself.
• to continue using or doing (something)
1. You need to find a job and stick with it.
2. I'll stick with my usual brand.
3. The company is sticking with its decision to close the store.
• to force (someone) to deal with (something or someone unpleasant)
1. They always stick me with the bill. [=make me pay the bill]
2. The teacher always sticks me with Tom.
3. I was stuck with washing dishes.
4. I got stuck with Tom again.
• to stay close to (someone) in a race or competition
1. The challenger stuck with the champion until the very last round.
• to stay near (someone) in order to gain knowledge, protection, etc.
1. Stick with me, kid, and you'll learn something!
• to be remembered by someone for a very long time
1. The lessons she learned from that experience stuck with her.