stick
/stick/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A thin piece of wood: A long, slender piece of wood from a tree or bush.
- A long, thin object used for a specific purpose: An implement shaped like a length of wood, used for hitting in sports (like hockey), stirring, or as a support.
- A threat of punishment: Used figuratively to mean a punitive measure or threat, often contrasted with a "carrot" (reward).
- A small branch or twig: A thin piece of wood from a tree.
- A piece of something in a long, thin shape: A solid item with a long, thin form, such as a stick of butter, dynamite, or cinnamon.
- Informal term for the leg: A humorous or informal way to refer to a person's leg.
Verb:
- To attach or fasten: To cause something to adhere or become fixed in place using glue, pins, or by pushing it into something.
- To push a pointed object into something: To pierce or puncture with something sharp.
- To become fixed or jammed: To become unable to move because something is blocking it.
- To remain in a place or condition: To stay somewhere or continue to be attached to something.
- To be puzzling or confusing: To cause someone to be unable to understand or solve something (informal).
- To remain loyal or faithful: To continue to support someone or adhere to a principle.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- He used a stick to poke the fire.
- The hockey player passed the puck with his stick.
- The teacher's approach was all stick and no carrot.
- We gathered dry sticks for kindling.
- She bought a stick of gum.
Verb:
- Please stick the stamp on the envelope.
- He stuck a pin in the map to mark the location.
- The drawer sticks and is hard to open.
- The nickname stuck with him for years.
- This math problem really sticks me.
- True friends stick together in difficult times.
Advanced Usage
"to stick at something": To persevere with a task.
- If you stick at it, you'll eventually learn to play the piano.
"to stick by someone": To remain loyal to someone, especially during a difficult time.
- She stuck by her brother throughout his legal troubles.
"to stick in one's mind": To be remembered clearly for a long time.
- That haunting melody has stuck in my mind for weeks.
Variants and Related Words
Sticky (adj): Having a surface that things adhere to; tending to stick.
- The tape is very sticky.
Sticker (n): An adhesive label or decal.
- She put a sticker on her notebook.
Stickler (n): A person who insists on a certain quality or type of behavior.
- He is a stickler for punctuality.
Synonyms
- Noun: Rod, branch, twig, cane, baton.
- Verb: Adhere, attach, glue, affix, pierce, jab, remain, stay, perplex, baffle.
Related Phrasal Verbs
Stick around: To remain in a place, often waiting for something.
- Can you stick around after the meeting? I need to ask you something.
Stick out: To extend beyond something else; to be very noticeable. Also, to endure something unpleasant.
- His ears stick out. / She decided to stick out the boring lecture.
Stick up for: To defend or support someone or something.
- You should stick up for your beliefs.
Stick with: To continue with something or someone; to not change.
- I think I'll stick with my current job for now.
Related Idioms
The short end of the stick: To get an unfair deal or the worst part of a situation.
- I feel like I got the short end of the stick in that negotiation.
Stick to your guns: To refuse to change your opinion or decision despite pressure.
- Even when everyone disagreed, she stuck to her guns.
Stick in the mud: A person who is boring and refuses to try new things.
- Don't be such a stick in the mud—come to the party!
Stick one's neck out: To take a risk.
- He stuck his neck out to recommend me for the promotion.
Noun
- threat of a penalty
- the policy so far is all stick and no carrot
- marijuana leaves rolled into a cigarette for smoking
- a long thin implement resembling a length of wood
- cinnamon sticks
- a stick of dynamite
- a long implement (usually made of wood) that is shaped so that hockey or polo players can hit a puck or ball
- informal terms for the leg
- fever left him weak on his sticks
- a rectangular quarter pound block of butter or margarine
- a lever used by a pilot to control the ailerons and elevators of an airplane
- a small thin branch of a tree
- an implement consisting of a length of wood
- he collected dry sticks for a campfire
- the kid had a candied apple on a stick
Verb
- be a mystery or bewildering to
- This beats me!
- Got me--I don't know the answer!
- a vexing problem
- This question really stuck me
- saddle with something disagreeable or disadvantageous
- They stuck me with the dinner bill
- I was stung with a huge tax bill
- come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
- The dress clings to her body
- The label stuck to the box
- The sushi rice grains cohere
- pierce or penetrate or puncture with something pointed
- He stuck the needle into his finger
- pierce with a thrust using a pointed instrument
- he stuck the cloth with the needle
- fasten into place by fixing an end or point into something
- stick the corner of the sheet under the mattress
- fasten with or as with pins or nails
- stick the photo onto the corkboard
- fasten with an adhesive material like glue
- stick the poster onto the wall
- cover and decorate with objects that pierce the surface
- stick some feathers in the turkey before you serve it
- be loyal to
- She stood by her husband in times of trouble
- The friends stuck together through the war
- be a devoted follower or supporter
- The residents of this village adhered to Catholicism
- She sticks to her principles
- endure
- The label stuck to her for the rest of her life
- be or become fixed
- The door sticks--we will have to plane it
- stick to firmly
- Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?
- stay put (in a certain place); we are not moving to Cincinnati"
- We are staying in Detroit
- Stay put in the corner here!
- Stick around and you will learn something!
- put, fix, force, or implant
- lodge a bullet in the table
- stick your thumb in the crack