STICK (stuck)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does stick mean? 

• STICK (noun)
  The noun STICK has 9 senses:

1. an implement consisting of a length of wood

2. a small thin branch of a tree

3. a lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplane

4. a rectangular quarter pound block of butter or margarine

5. informal terms for the leg

6. a long implement (usually made of wood) that is shaped so that hockey or polo players can hit a puck or ball

7. a long thin implement resembling a length of wood

8. marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking

9. threat of a penalty

  Familiarity information: STICK used as a noun is familiar.

• STICK (verb)
  The verb STICK has 16 senses:

1. put, fix, force, or implant

2. stay put (in a certain place)

3. stick to firmly

4. be or become fixed

5. endure

6. be a devoted follower or supporter

7. be loyal to

8. cover and decorate with objects that pierce the surface

9. fasten with an adhesive material like glue

10. fasten with or as with pins or nails

11. fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something

12. pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument

13. pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed

14. come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

15. saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous

16. be a mystery or bewildering to

  Familiarity information: STICK used as a verb is very familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STICK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An implement consisting of a length of wood

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

the kid had a candied apple on a stick

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

implement (instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stick"):

club (stout stick that is larger at one end)

walking stick (a stick carried in the hand for support in walking)

swizzle stick (a small stick used to stir mixed drinks)

stob (a short straight stick of wood)

staff (a strong rod or stick with a specialized utilitarian purpose)

spindle (a stick or pin used to twist the yarn in spinning)

backsword; fencing stick; singlestick (a stick used instead of a sword for fencing)

mahlstick; maulstick (a long stick that a painter uses to support the hand holding the brush)

matchstick (a short thin stick of wood used in making matches)

linstock (a stick about a meter long with a point on one end (to stick in the ground) and a forked head on the other end (to hold a lighted match); formerly used to fire cannons)

drumstick (a stick used for playing a drum)

divining rod; dowser; dowsing rod; water finder; waterfinder (forked stick that is said to dip down to indicate underground water or oil)

bow (a slightly curved piece of resilient wood with taut horsehair strands; used in playing certain stringed instruments)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A small thin branch of a tree

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

limb; tree branch (any of the main branches arising from the trunk or a bough of a tree)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplane

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

control stick; joystick; stick

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

lever (a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A rectangular quarter pound block of butter or margarine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting foods and drinks

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

margarin; margarine; marge; oleo; oleomargarine (a spread made chiefly from vegetable oils and used as a substitute for butter)

butter (an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Informal terms for the leg

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

peg; pin; stick

Context example:

fever left him weak on his sticks

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

leg (a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A long implement (usually made of wood) that is shaped so that hockey or polo players can hit a puck or ball

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

sports equipment (equipment needed to participate in a particular sport)

Domain category:

field hockey; hockey (a game resembling ice hockey that is played on an open field; two opposing teams use curved hockey sticks try to drive a ball into the opponents' net)

polo (a game similar to field hockey but played on horseback using long-handled mallets and a wooden ball)

hockey; hockey game; ice hockey (a game played on an ice rink by two opposing teams of six skaters each who try to knock a flat round puck into the opponents' goal with angled hockey sticks)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "stick"):

hockey stick (sports implement consisting of a curved or angled stick used by hockey players to move the puck)

polo mallet; polo stick (a mallet used to strike the ball in polo)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A long thin implement resembling a length of wood

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

a stick of dynamite

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

implement (instrumentation (a piece of equipment or tool) used to effect an end)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

joint; marijuana cigarette; reefer; spliff; stick

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

butt; cigaret; cigarette; coffin nail; fag (finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking)

Meronyms (substance of "stick"):

cannabis; ganja; marihuana; marijuana (the most commonly used illicit drug; considered a soft drug, it consists of the dried leaves of the hemp plant; smoked or chewed for euphoric effect)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Threat of a penalty

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the policy so far is all stick and no carrot

Hypernyms ("stick" is a kind of...):

penalisation; penalization; penalty; punishment (the act of punishing)

• STICK (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Put, fix, force, or implant

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

deposit; lodge; stick; wedge

Context example:

stick your thumb in the crack

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

fasten; fix; secure (cause to be firmly attached)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stick"):

redeposit (deposit anew)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something PP

Sentence example:

They stick the books into the box

Also:

stick out (extend out or project in space)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Stay put (in a certain place)

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

stay; stay put; stick; stick around

Context example:

Stick around and you will learn something!

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

stay in place (be stationary)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 3

Meaning:

Stick to firmly

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

adhere; bind; bond; hold fast; stick; stick to

Context example:

Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

attach (become attached)

Verb group:

adhere; cleave; cling; cohere; stick (come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stick"):

bind (form a chemical bond with)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

sticker (an adhesive label)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be or become fixed

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The door sticks--we will have to plane it

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 5

Meaning:

Endure

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The label stuck to her for the rest of her life

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

persist; remain; stay (stay behind)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 6

Meaning:

Be a devoted follower or supporter

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

adhere; stick

Context example:

She sticks to her principles

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

adopt; espouse; follow (choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 7

Meaning:

Be loyal to

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

adhere; stand by; stick; stick by

Context example:

The friends stuck together through the war

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s something PP

Sense 8

Meaning:

Cover and decorate with objects that pierce the surface

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

stick some feathers in the turkey before you serve it

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 9

Meaning:

Fasten with an adhesive material like glue

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

stick the poster onto the wall

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

fasten (become fixed or fastened)

Verb group:

adhere; cleave; cling; cohere; stick (come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation)

stick (fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something)

stick (fasten with or as with pins or nails)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 10

Meaning:

Fasten with or as with pins or nails

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

stick the photo onto the corkboard

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

fasten (become fixed or fastened)

Verb group:

stick (fasten with an adhesive material like glue)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 11

Meaning:

Fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

stick the corner of the sheet under the mattress

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

fasten (become fixed or fastened)

Verb group:

stick (fasten with an adhesive material like glue)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 12

Meaning:

Pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

he stuck the cloth with the needle

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

pierce; thrust (penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument)

Verb group:

stick (pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

sticker (a short knife with a pointed blade used for piercing or stabbing)

sticker (a small sharp-pointed tip resembling a spike on a stem or leaf)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

He stuck the needle into his finger

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

pierce; thrust (penetrate or cut through with a sharp instrument)

Verb group:

stick (pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

sticker (a short knife with a pointed blade used for piercing or stabbing)

Sense 14

Meaning:

Come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

adhere; cleave; cling; cohere; stick

Context example:

The sushi rice grains cohere

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

adjoin; contact; meet; touch (be in direct physical contact with; make contact)

"Stick" entails doing...:

attach (become attached)

Verb group:

adhere; bind; bond; hold fast; stick; stick to (stick to firmly)

stick (fasten with an adhesive material like glue)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stick"):

mold (fit tightly, follow the contours of)

conglutinate (stick together)

agglutinate (clump together; as of bacteria, red blood cells, etc.)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 15

Meaning:

Saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

stick; sting

Context example:

I was stung with a huge tax bill

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

force; thrust (impose urgently, importunately, or inexorably)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody with something

Sense 16

Meaning:

Be a mystery or bewildering to

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

amaze; baffle; beat; bewilder; dumbfound; flummox; get; gravel; mystify; nonplus; perplex; pose; puzzle; stick; stupefy; vex

Context example:

This question really stuck me

Hypernyms (to "stick" is one way to...):

bedevil; befuddle; confound; confuse; discombobulate; fox; fuddle; throw (be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "stick"):

mix up; stump (cause to be perplexed or confounded)

riddle (set a difficult problem or riddle)

elude; escape (be incomprehensible to; escape understanding by)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

 Context examples 

I got past it and got one in with my stick that crushed his head like an egg.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mesothelin may help these cells stick together and send signals.

(Mesothelin, NCI Dictionary)

Women and children were carrying more sticks and branches to Grey Beaver.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

“Why, my dear Copperfield,” said Traddles, sticking his hair upright with both hands, and then putting his hands on my knees, “I am married!”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"There are her two feet, still sticking out from under a block of wood."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

Hans takes the knife, sticks it in his sleeve, and goes home.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

By George, gentlemen, our balls just stuck in her timbers like stones in a mud wall.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Nor from below,” said Mr. Merryweather, striking his stick upon the flags which lined the floor.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Researchers found that, instead, these responses may depend greatly on whether a protein encoded by the Shisa7 gene is stuck to GABAA receptors.

(‘Sticky’ gene may help Valium calm nerves, National Institutes of Health)

I cannot think, said he, why you English should be so fond of your six-foot stick.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)