stick

noun67

1. •
   a small, thin bit of wood that has come off a tree

   • The beaver's dam was made out of sticks.
2. •
   An elongated piece of wood or similar material, typically put to some use, for example as a wand or baton.
3. •
   A relatively long, thin piece of wood, of any size.

   • I found several good sticks in the brush heap.
   • What do you call a boomerang that won't come back? A stick.
4. •
   (US) A timber board, especially a two by four (inches).

   • I found enough sticks in dumpsters at construction sites to build my shed.
5. •
   A cane or walking stick (usually wooden, metal or plastic) to aid in walking.

   • I don’t need my stick to walk, but it’s helpful.
6. •
   A cudgel or truncheon (usually of wood, metal or plastic), especially one carried by police or guards.

   • As soon as the fight started, the guards came in swinging their sticks.
7. •
   A mast or part of a mast of a ship; also, a yard.
8. •
   A stick-like item.
9. •
   A long thin implement used to control a ball or puck in sports like hockey, polo, and lacrosse.

   • Tripping with the stick is a violation of the rules.
10. •
    The short whip carried by a jockey.
11. •
    The pole bearing a small flag that marks the hole.

    • His wedge shot bounced off the stick and went in the hole.
12. •
    (US, slang) The cue used in billiards, pool, snooker, etc.

    • His stroke with that two-piece stick is a good as anybody's in the club.
13. •
    Any roughly cylindrical (or rectangular) unit of a substance.

    • Sealing wax is available as a cylindrical or rectangular stick.
14. •
    (US, Canada) A small rectangular block, with a length several times its width, which contains by volume one half of a cup of shortening (butter, margarine or lard).

    • The recipe calls for half a stick of butter.
15. •
    A standard rectangular strip of chewing gum.

    • Don’t hog all that gum, give me a stick!
16. •
    (slang) A cigarette (usually a tobacco cigarette, less often a marijuana cigarette).

    • Cigarettes are taxed at one dollar per stick.
17. •
    (figurative) A negative stimulus or a punishment. (This sense derives from the metaphor of using a stick, a long piece of wood, to poke or beat a beast of burden to compel it to move forward.)

    • We were tempted with the carrot but subtly threatened with the stick.
18. •
    (slang) Corporal punishment, beatings

    • The child killers got some stick. I saw a woman throw a basin of scalding water over a baby killer. — 1999
19. •
    A tool, control, or instrument shaped somewhat like a stick.
20. •
    The control column of an aircraft; a joystick. (By convention, a wheel-like control mechanism with a handgrip on opposite sides, similar to the steering wheel of an automobile, can also be called the "stick", although "yoke" or "control wheel" is more commonly seen.)
21. •
    A joystick.

    • The keyboard offers a full range of actions including Fight and you are given the option of using a Kempston stick for the movement combat. — 1985
22. •
    A memory stick.

    • For ultimate presentation portability, a Powerpoint can be saved to a stick as images. — 2007
23. •
    (old-fashioned) A composing stick, the tool used by compositors to assemble lines of type.

    • […]although the headings may often be in other type, still, as these are composed in the same stick, they cannot fail to justify;[…] — 1854
24. •
    (UK, figurative) Criticism or ridicule, often in the expressions "get a lot of stick", "get some stick", "come in for some stick", etc.

    • I got some stick personally because of my walking attire. I arrived to training fully kitted out in sturdy walking boots. — 2008
25. •
    (US, informal) A manual transmission, a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, so called because of the stick-like, i.e. twig-like, control (the gear shift) with which the driver of such a vehicle controls its transmission.

    • I grew up driving a stick, but many people my age didn't.
26. •
    (US, informal) Vehicles, collectively, equipped with manual transmissions.

    • I grew up driving stick, but many people my age didn't.
27. •
    Material or objects attached to a stick or the like.
28. •
    A bunch of something wrapped around or attached to a stick.

    • My parents bought us each a stick of cotton candy.
29. •
    A thrust with a pointed instrument; a stab; an instance of sticking (pricking or piercing).

    • […]; but let me tell you, my brave boy, that a stick with a sword hurts worse than a prick with a needle. — 1902
30. •
    An instance of piercing someone with a needle, e.g. to draw blood or start an IV.

    • […] hoping to get an easy stick. Well, that partially worked. She got the needle in the correct vein on the second stick. Ouch, ouch! — 2024
31. •
    The tendency to stick (remain stuck), stickiness.
32. •
    The traction of tires on the road surface.
33. •
    That which sticks (remains attached to another surface).
34. •
    The amount of fishing line resting on the water surface before a cast; line stick.

    • Problem: A lot of stick and a lack of energy on the forward stroke. — 2004
35. •
    (slang) Vigor; spirit; effort, energy, intensity.

    • He really gave that digging some stick.
    • She really gave that bully some stick.
36. •
    (slang) Vigorous driving of a car; gas.

    • Skunk really gave it some stick all the way to Caliban's place, we passed a good few Coppers but they all seemed to turn the blind eye. — 2006
37. •
    (figurative) A piece (of furniture, especially if wooden).

    • We were so poor we didn't have one stick of furniture.
38. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) A thin or wiry person; particularly a flat-chested woman.

    • "She's a stick, this one. She lacks your—" he patted her left breast— "equipment." — 1967
39. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) A person or group of people. (Perhaps, in some senses, because people are, broadly speaking, tall and thin, like pieces of wood.)

    • Your father's a great old stick. He's really been very good to me. — 1967
40. •
    The structure to which a set of bombs in a bomber aircraft are attached and which drops the bombs when it is released. The bombs themselves and, by extension, any load of similar items dropped in quick succession such as paratroopers or containers.

    • Scores of transport planes streamed in to drop stick after stick of containers until the entire sky over the coast was polka-dotted with brightly coloured parachutes. — 2001
41. •
    (slang) A handgun.

    • A stick in the hand, a drop in the eye. — 2007
42. •
    (US, slang) The game of pool, or an individual pool game.

    • He shoots a mean stick of pool.
43. •
    Ability.
44. •
    The long-range driving ability of a golf club.

    • I doubted that the three iron was enough stick. — 1988
45. •
    The potential hitting power of a specific bat.
46. •
    General hitting ability.

    • Vaughn has to hit and keep hitting or this will be another year when the Mets don't have enough stick to win. — 2002
47. •
    The potential accuracy of a hockey stick, implicating also the player using it.
48. •
    Use of the stick to control the aircraft.

    • For example: in making a turn, should you throw on too much stick and not enough rudder, you'll sideslip. — 1941
49. •
    (informal) A person whom one is piercing with a needle to draw blood or start an IV (especially in the context of how difficult or easy this is).

    • I was called to start an IV on a “difficult stick.” (Notice the term we so commonly use to describe a human being who is difficult to hook up to an IV.) — 2009
50. •
    Encouragement or punishment, or (resulting) vigour or other improved behavior.
51. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) An assistant planted in the audience.

    • The kid was a stick, a plant, a student from UNLV who picked up a few bucks nightly by saying the words "seven of hearts." — 2001
52. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) A shill or house player.

    • A shill is also called a stick, and the role of the shill or stick is to make the customer relax and feel at ease. — 2011
53. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) A small group of (infantry) soldiers.

    • I remember when we dreaded the rain, as our stick of soldiers walked through the damp, tick-infested long grass of the Zambezi valley,[…] — 2007
54. •
    (slang) A bar (counter where drinks are served).

    • I've been working behind the stick for twenty years.
55. •
    A board as used in board sports, such as a surfboard, snowboard, or skateboard.
56. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) A fighter pilot.

    • Bill Kirk, described by Robin as a "hell of a stick," didn't even attend college until after the Vietnam War. — 2001
57. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) A stiff, stupidly obstinate person.
58. •
    (informal, rare) One who sticks at something; one who persists.
59. •
    The vertical member of a cope-and-stick joint.

    • When cutting the door parts, I cut all the copes first, then the sticks. — 1997
60. •
    (slang) The clarinet.

    • Arsene, boy, ain't you worried about your clarinet? Where'd you leave that stick, man? — 1948
61. •
    (US, slang) An aircraft’s propeller.
62. •
    A measure.
63. •
    Any of the eight 16-character groups making up the 128 characters of the 7-bit ASCII character set.
64. •
    (no longer used) A scroll that is rolled around (mounted on, attached to) a stick.

    • Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it[…] — 1611
65. •
    (no longer used) An English Imperial unit of length equal to 2 inches.
66. •
    (no longer used, rare) A quantity of eels, usually 25.

    • The stick is employed for eels, and contained twenty-five. — 1866
67. •
    (no longer used) The customary length (according to the material used) of a piece or roll of textile fabrics imported from Flanders.

verb26

1. •
   To become or remain attached; to adhere.

   • The tape will not stick if it melts.
2. •
   To persist.

   • His old nickname stuck.
3. •
   Of snow, to remain frozen on landing.
4. •
   To attach with glue or as if by gluing.

   • Stick the label on the jar.
5. •
   To press (something with a sharp point) into something else.

   • The balloon will pop when I stick this pin in it.
6. •
   To stab.

   • Thou stickest a dagger in me: I shall never see my gold again: fourscore ducats at a sitting! fourscore ducats! — 1596
7. •
   To fix on a pointed instrument; to impale.
8. •
   To place, set down (quickly or carelessly).

   • Stick your bag over there and come with me.
9. •
   To remain loyal; to remain firm.

   • Just stick to your strategy, and you will win.
10. •
    To jam; to stop moving.

    • The lever sticks if you push it too far up.
11. •
    To tolerate, to endure, to stick with.

    • Why do most course organizers stick the job for less than five years? — 1998
12. •
    To perform (a landing or a shot) perfectly.

    • Once again, the world champion sticks the dismount.
13. •
    (slang) To impose upon; to compel to pay; sometimes, to cheat.
14. •
    To hit with a stick.
15. •
    (UK) To stand pat: to cease taking any more cards and finalize one's hand.
16. •
    To propagate plants by cuttings.

    • Stick cuttings from geraniums promptly.
17. •
    (slang, vulgar) To have sexual intercourse with.

    • You ain't lickin' this, you ain't stickin' this — 1996
18. •
    (old-fashioned) To be puzzled (at something), have difficulty understanding.
19. •
    (old-fashioned) To bring to a halt; to stymie; to puzzle.
20. •
    (old-fashioned) To hesitate, to be reluctant; to refuse (in negative phrases).

    • , 2nd edition edited by Samuel Johnson, London: J. Payne, 1756, Part I, p. 12, Though a cup of cold water from some hand may not be without its reward, yet stick not thou for wine and oil for the wounds of the distressed […]
21. •
    (old-fashioned) To cause difficulties, scruples, or hesitation.

    • […] this is the Difficulty that seemeth chiefly to stick with the most reasonable of those, who, from a mere Scruple of Conscience, refuse to join with us upon the Revolution Principle […] . — 1708
22. •
    To furnish or set with sticks.
23. •
    To run or plane (mouldings) in a machine, in contradistinction to working them by hand. Such mouldings are said to be stuck.
24. •
    To cut a piece of wood to be the stick member of a cope-and-stick joint.
25. •
    (slang, old-fashioned) To compose; to set, or arrange, in a composing stick.
26. •
    (no longer used) To adorn or deck with things fastened on as by piercing.

    • my shroud of white, stuck all with yew — 1601

adjective1

1. •
   (informal) Likely to stick; sticking, sticky.

   • A non-stick pan. A stick plaster.
   • A sticker type of glue. The stickest kind of gum.

noun1

1. •
   (Ireland) A member of the Official IRA.