flick

UK: /ˈflɪk/ US: /flɪk/ ,(flik)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

flick¹ /flɪk/   n. [countable]

1. a sudden light blow or tap, such as with a whip or the finger.
2. the sound made by such a blow or tap.
3. a light and rapid movement:
   a flick of the wrist.

v. 

4. to strike, remove, propel, or operate with a sudden light, smart stroke:
   [~ + (away +) object] flicked the horse with a whip; to flick (away) a crumb.
5. to cause to move rapidly, suddenly, or jerkily:
   [~ + object] a bird flicking its tail.
6. to turn pages rapidly or idly:
   [~ + through + object] to flick through a magazine.

flick² /flɪk/   n. [countable] [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms a movie.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

flick¹  (flik), n. 

1. a sudden light blow or tap, as with a whip or the finger:
   She gave the horse a flick with her riding crop.
2. the sound made by such a blow or tap.
3. a light and rapid movement:
   a flick of the wrist.
4. something thrown off with or as if with a jerk:
   a flick of mud.

v.t. 

5. to strike lightly with a whip, the finger, etc.
6. to remove with such a stroke:
   to flick away a crumb.
7. to move (something) with a sudden stroke or jerk.

v.i. 

8. to move with a jerk or jerks.
9. to flutter.

• 1400–50; late Middle English flykke; apparently imitative

flick²  (flik), n. [Slang.]

1. Slang Terms a motion picture.

Also, flicker. 

• shortening of flicker¹ 1925–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

flick / flɪk/ verb

1. (transitive) to touch with or as if with the finger or hand in a quick jerky movement
2. (transitive) to propel or remove by a quick jerky movement, usually of the fingers or hand
3. to move or cause to move quickly or jerkily
4. (intransitive) followed by through: to read or look at (a book, newspaper, etc) quickly or idly

noun

1. a tap or quick stroke with the fingers, a whip, etc
2. the sound made by such a stroke
3. a fleck, streak, or particle
4. give someone the flick ⇒ to dismiss someone from consideration

Etymology: 15th Century: of imitative origin; compare French flicflac

flick / flɪk/ noun

1. a cinema film
2. the flicks ⇒ the cinema: what's on at the flicks tonight?