kick: Meaning and Definition of
kick
Pronunciation: (kik), [key]
— v.t.
- to strike with the foot or feet: to kick the ball; to kick someone in the shins.
- to drive, force, make, etc., by or as if by kicks.
- to score (a field goal or a conversion) by place-kicking or drop-kicking the ball.
- to make (a car) increase in speed, esp. in auto racing: He kicked his car into high gear.
- to strike in recoiling: The gun kicked his shoulder.
- to give up or break (a drug addiction): Has he kicked the habit?
- raise (def. 24).
- to reject as a suitor; jilt: He courted her for two years —then she kicked him.
—v.i.
- to make a rapid, forceful thrust with the foot or feet: He kicked at the ball. You have to kick rapidly when using a crawl stroke.
- to have a tendency to strike with the foot or feet: That horse kicks when you walk into his stall.
- to resist, object, or complain: What's he got to kick about?
- to recoil, as a firearm when fired.
- to be actively or vigorously involved: He's still alive and kicking.
- to move from place to place frequently: He kicked about a good deal before settling down.
- We kicked around various ideas for raising money.
- to treat (someone) harshly or inconsiderately.
- to consider, discuss, or speculate about (a proposal, project, etc.):We kicked around various ideas for raising money.
- to experiment with.
- to pass time idly; wander from place to place aimlessly:We just kicked around for a year after college.
- to remain unused, unemployed, or unnoticed:The script has been kicking around for years.
- .
- to act harshly or use force in order to gain a desired result.
- to defeat soundly.
- Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.
- to recoil, esp. vigorously or unexpectedly.
- Informal.to give someone a kickback.
- Slang.to return (stolen property, money, etc.) to the owner.
- to relax:Let's just kick back and enjoy the weekend.
- The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.
- to contribute one's share, esp. in money.
- Slang.to die.
- to become operational; activate; go into effect:The air conditioning kicks in when the temperature reaches 80°F.
- The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.
- Football.to begin play or begin play again by a kickoff:The Giants won the toss and elected to kick off.
- Slang.to die.
- to initiate (an undertaking, meeting, etc.); begin:A rally tomorrow night will kick off the campaign.
- to switch on; turn on: He kicked on the motor and we began to move.
- They have been kicked out of the country club.
- to oust or eject:They have been kicked out of the country club.
- to fail; give out:The power kicked out and the room went black.
- to separate off, as for review or inspection:The computer kicked out the information in a split second.
- Surfing.to turn a surfboard by shifting the weight to the rear, causing the surfboard to come down over the top of a wave, in order to stop a ride.
- (of an internal-combustion engine) to begin ignition; turn over: The engine kicked over a few times but we couldn't get it started.
- See (def. 3).
- See(def. 11).
- to give a donation; contribute.
- They kicked up a tremendous row.
- to drive or force upward by kicking.
- to stir up (trouble); make or cause (a disturbance, scene, etc.):They kicked up a tremendous row.
- (esp. of a machine part) to move rapidly upward:The lever kicks up, engaging the gear.
- See(def. 5).
—n.
- the act of kicking; a blow or thrust with the foot or feet.
- power or disposition to kick: That horse has a mean kick.
- an objection or complaint.
- His biggest kick comes from telling about the victory.
- thrill; pleasurable excitement:His biggest kick comes from telling about the victory.
- a strong but temporary interest, often an activity:Making mobiles is his latest kick.
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- a stimulating or intoxicating quality in alcoholic drink.
- vim, vigor, or energy.
- place kick.
- an instance of kicking the ball.
- any method of kicking the ball:place kick.
- a kicked ball.
- the distance such a ball travels.
- a turn at kicking the ball.
- a recoil, as of a gun.
- a pocket: He kept his wallet in his side kick.
- shoes.
-
- a solid glass base or an indentation at the base of drinking glasses, bottles, etc., that reduces the liquid capacity of the glassware.
- Also,punt.an indentation at the base of a wine bottle, originally for trapping the sediment.
- . See(def. 39a).
- I think you'll like her, she's a real kick in the pants.
- someone or something that is very exciting, enjoyable, amusing, etc.:I think you'll like her, she's a real kick in the pants.
- Seekick(def. 40).
- an abrupt, often humiliating setback; rebuff: Her refusal even to talk to me was a kick in the teeth.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.