sʌk v. & n. --v. 1 tr.
draw (a fluid)
into the mouth by
making a
partial vacuum. 2 tr. (also absol.) a draw
milk or
other fluid from or
through (the
breast etc. or a container). b
extract juice from (a fruit) by
sucking. 3 tr. a draw
sustenance,
knowledge, or
advantage from (a
book etc.). b
imbibe or
gain (knowledge, advantage, etc.) as if by sucking. 4 tr.
roll the
tongue round (a
sweet,
teeth, one's
thumb, etc.). 5 intr.
make a sucking
action or
sound (sucking at
his pipe). 6 intr. (of a pump etc.) make a gurgling or
drawing sound. 7 tr. (usu. foll. by down, in)
engulf,
smother, or
drown in a sucking
movement. --n. 1 the
act or an
instance of sucking,
esp. the breast. 2 the drawing action or sound of a
whirlpool etc. 3 (often foll. by of) a
small draught of
liquor. 4 (in
pl.; esp. as int.) colloq. a an
expression of
disappointment. b an expression of
derision or
amusement at another's discomfiture. øgive suck
archaic (of a
mother, dam, etc.)
suckle. suck
dry 1
exhaust the contents of (a
bottle, the breast, etc.) by sucking. 2 exhaust (a person's
sympathy, resources, etc.) as if by sucking. suck in 1
absorb. 2 =
sense 7 of v. 3
involve (a person) in an
activity etc. esp.
against his or
her will. suck up 1 (often foll. by to) colloq.
behave obsequiously esp.
for one's
own advantage. 2 absorb. [OE sucan, = L sugere]
