flick

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a light sharp contact, usually with something flexible

   I gave it a flick with my finger.

2. 2
   verb

   touch or hit with a light, quick blow

   They flicked the ant off of their arm.

3. 3
   verb

   throw or toss with a quick motion

   flick a piece of paper across the table

4. 4
   verb

   twitch or flutter

   the paper flicked

5. 5
   verb

   cause to move with a flick

   I flicked my lighter nervously.

6. 6
   verb

   flash intermittently

   The lights flicked on and off

7. 7
   verb

   shine unsteadily

   The candle flickered

8. 8
   noun

   A short, quick movement, especially a brush, sweep, or flip.

   He removed the speck of dust with a flick of his finger.

Etymology

From Middle English flykke (“light blow or stroke”). Later uses apparently interpreted as a back-formation from flicker. The use of flick to mean a film or movie derives from the fact that early films had a low frame rate, thus causing the film to "flick" rapidly when projected onto a screen.