kick Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the act of delivering a blow with the foot
    kicking; boot.
    • he gave the ball a powerful kick
    • the team's kicking was excellent
  2. noun the swift release of a store of affective force
    rush; thrill; boot; charge; bang; flush.
    • they got a great bang out of it
    • what a boot!
    • he got a quick rush from injecting heroin
    • he does it for kicks
  3. noun the backward jerk of a gun when it is fired
    recoil.
  4. noun informal terms for objecting
    squawk; gripe; beef; bitch.
    • I have a gripe about the service here
  5. noun the sudden stimulation provided by strong drink (or certain drugs)
    • a sidecar is a smooth drink but it has a powerful kick
  6. noun a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics
    kicking.
    • the kick must be synchronized with the arm movements
    • the swimmer's kicking left a wake behind him
  7. verb drive or propel with the foot
  8. verb thrash about or strike out with the feet
  9. verb strike with the foot
    • The boy kicked the dog
    • Kick the door down
  10. verb kick a leg up
  11. verb spring back, as from a forceful thrust
    recoil; kick back.
    • The gun kicked back into my shoulder
  12. verb stop consuming
    give up.
    • kick a habit
    • give up alcohol
  13. verb make a goal
    • He kicked the extra point after touchdown
  14. verb express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
    plain; kvetch; sound off; complain; quetch.
    • My mother complains all day
    • She has a lot to kick about

WordNet

Kick transitive verb
Etymology
W. cicio, fr. cic foot.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Kicred present participle & verbal noun Kicking
Definitions
  1. To strike, thrust, or hit violently with the foot; as, a horse kicks a groom; a man kicks a dog.
    He [Frederick the Great] kicked the shins of his judges. Macaulay.
Kick intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To thrust out the foot or feet with violence; to strike out with the foot or feet, as in defense or in bad temper; esp., to strike backward, as a horse does, or to have a habit of doing so. Hence, figuratively: To show ugly resistance, opposition, or hostility; to spurn.
    I should kick, being kicked. Shak.
  2. To recoil; -- said of a musket, cannon, etc. also kick back
Kick noun
Definitions
  1. A blow with the foot or feet; a striking or thrust with the foot.
    A kick, that scarce would more a horse, May kill a sound divine. Cowper.
  2. The projection on the tang of the blade of a pocket knife, which prevents the edge of the blade from striking the spring. See Illust. of Pocketknife.
  3. (Brickmaking) A projection in a mold, to form a depression in the surface of the brick.
  4. The recoil of a musket or other firearm, when discharged.

Webster 1913