flick

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /flɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #9015

Meanings

1

verb
To hit or touch something with a quick, light movement.

They flicked the ant off their arm.
2

noun
A short, quick movement, such as a brush or flip.

He removed the speck of dust with a flick of his finger.
3

verb
To move something quickly with a small sharp motion, often a switch.

She flicked the light switch on as she entered the room.
4

verb
To shine or flash on and off in an unsteady way.

The candle flickered as a draft passed through the room.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to hit or touch something... flip

2 noun · a short, quick movement,... fillip

3 verb · to move something quickly... flip

4 verb · to shine or flash on and... flicker

Word family

Forms flickedflickingflicks

Derived forms flick-onflick-screenflickableflickynetflixunflicked

Related forms flicker

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

flick knife
a folding knife whose blade opens by a spring when a button is pressed

Noun + noun

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.

flykke Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# flick

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** /flɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 9015

## Meanings
1. To hit or touch something with a quick, light movement.
2. A short, quick movement, such as a brush or flip.
3. To move something quickly with a small sharp motion, often a switch.
4. To shine or flash on and off in an unsteady way.

## Examples
- They flicked the ant off their arm.
- He removed the speck of dust with a flick of his finger.
- She flicked the light switch on as she entered the room.
- The candle flickered as a draft passed through the room.

## Derived Forms
- flick-on
- flick-screen
- flickable
- flicky
- netflix
- unflicked

## Related Forms
- flicker

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: flykke

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Flick is 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. In present-day use, it can mean to hit or touch something with a quick, light movement, or a short, quick movement, such as a brush or flip. Related forms include flicker. Derived formations include flick-on, flick-screen, flickable, flicky, netflix.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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