flick1

[flik] /flɪk/
noun
1.
a sudden light blow or tap, as with a whip or the finger:
She gave the horse a flick with her riding crop.
2.
the sound made by such a blow or tap.
3.
a light and rapid movement:
a flick of the wrist.
4.
something thrown off with or as if with a jerk:
a flick of mud.
verb (used with object)
5.
to strike lightly with a whip, the finger, etc.
6.
to remove with such a stroke:
to flick away a crumb.
7.
to move (something) with a sudden stroke or jerk.
verb (used without object)
8.
to move with a jerk or jerks.
9.
to flutter.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English flykke; apparently imitative

flick2

[flik] /flɪk/
noun, Slang.
1.
a motion picture.
Also, flicker.
Origin
1925-30; shortening of flicker1
Examples from the web for flick
  • Windows that absorb or reflect light and heat at the flick of a switch could help cut heating and cooling bills.
  • flick a power switch and in a few minutes you have what appears to be easy access to a lot of power.
  • Computers gathering data on every flick of a switch, flush of a toilet, or opening of a cabinet.
  • But there are a host of other applications where a simple flick of the hand would do.
  • Nana made out the cigarette-lighter flick, the deep, first-of-the-day inhalation.
  • He didn't flick a whisker at the vehicle driving up and stopping.
  • flick the screen with your fingers and the pages fan.
  • Processing plants can go back and forth between ethanol and crystallised sugar at the flick of a switch, depending on prices.
  • Not all of the world's marginal supply can be turned on at the flick of a switch.
  • At the flick of a switch this vehicle went from petrol to hydrogen fuel with no perceptible change in its handling.
British Dictionary definitions for flick

flick1

/flɪk/
verb
1.
(transitive) to touch with or as if with the finger or hand in a quick jerky movement
2.
(transitive) to propel or remove by a quick jerky movement, usually of the fingers or hand: to flick a piece of paper at someone
3.
to move or cause to move quickly or jerkily
4.
(intransitive) foll by through. to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly or idly
5.
to snap or click (the fingers) to produce a sharp sound
noun
6.
a tap or quick stroke with the fingers, a whip, etc
7.
the sound made by such a stroke
8.
a fleck, streak, or particle
9.
(informal) give someone the flick, to dismiss someone from consideration
Word Origin
C15: of imitative origin; compare French flicflac

flick2

/flɪk/
noun (slang)
1.
a cinema film
2.
the flicks, the cinema: what's on at the flicks tonight?
Word Origin and History for flick
n.

mid-15c., probably imitative of a light blow with a whip. Earliest recorded use is in phrase not worth a flykke "useless." As slang for "film," it is first attested 1926, a back-formation from flicker (v.), from their flickering appearance.

v.

1816, from flick (n.); meaning "quick turn of the wrist" is from 1897, originally in cricket. Related: Flicked; flicking.

Slang definitions & phrases for flick

flick

noun
  1. A movie: a cheapie hard-core porno flick/ He will play a role in the flick
  2. A movie theater
Related Terms

skin flick

[1920s+; fr the flickering of early movie images]