kick

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the act of delivering a blow with the foot

   They gave the ball a powerful kick before running down the field.

2. 2
   noun

   a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics

   the kick must be synchronized with the arm movements

3. 3
   noun

   the sudden stimulation provided by strong drink, or certain drugs

   A sidecar is a smooth drink but it has a powerful kick.

4. 4
   verb

   make a goal

   The kicker kicked the extra point after the touchdown.

5. 5
   verb

   stop consuming

   kick a habit

6. 6
   verb

   strike with the foot

   I kicked the stone down the road.

7. 7
   verb

   spring back, as from a forceful thrust

   The gun kicked back into my shoulder

8. 8
   verb

   To strike or hit with the foot or other extremity of the leg.

   Did you kick your brother?

Etymology

From Middle English kyken (“to strike out with the foot”), from Old Norse kikna (“to sink at the knees”) and keikja (“to bend backwards”) (compare Old Norse keikr (“bent backwards, the belly jutting forward”)), from Proto-Germanic *kaikaz (“bent backwards”), of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *kī-, *kij- (“to split, dodge, swerve sidewards”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵeyH- (“to sprout, shoot”). Compare also Dutch kijken (“to look”), Middle Low German kīken (“to look, watch”). See keek.