licking
What cats do
Licking is the present participle of lick, used as a verb form, noun, or adjective.
As a noun, a licking is a thorough defeat or a physical beating: Our team took a real licking in the playoffs.
The adjective describes flames or waves that move with tonguelike motion: licking flames consumed the building.
The gerund covers the act itself: The dog's constant licking of his paws worried us.
Sampling for flavor
- lappingFine abrasive finishing process
- slurpingDrinking with audible suction
- slobberingLetting saliva escape uncontrolled
- lapping upDrinking with tongue strokes
savoring · moistening · cleaning · grooming · slathering · tonguing · nuzzling · drooling
Repeated striking or pulsing
- thrashingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- drubbingDecisive, lopsided defeat
- trouncingOverwhelming defeat
- wallopingPowerful blow or defeat
shellacking · whipping · pummeling · rout · hammering · clobbering · mauling · crushing
Shining unsteadily, intermittently
- dancingRhythmic bodily motion
- cracklingSharp snapping noises
- blazingBurning very brightly
- engulfingSurrounding and consuming completely
consuming · spreading · smoldering · scorching · singeing · charring · searing · flaring
Giving something its form
- fixingRestoring proper function
- preparingMaking ready beforehand
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
- readyingMaking prepared beforehand
perfecting · polishing · improving · conditioning · refining
tasting
Sampling for flavor
- lappingFine abrasive finishing process
- slurpingDrinking with audible suction
- slobberingLetting saliva escape uncontrolled
lapping up · savoring · moistening · cleaning · grooming · slathering · tonguing · nuzzling · drooling · sucking
beating
Repeated striking or pulsing
walloping · shellacking · whipping · pummeling · rout · hammering · clobbering · mauling · crushing · demolition
flickering
Shining unsteadily, intermittently
engulfing · consuming · spreading · smoldering · scorching · singeing · charring · searing · flaring · burning
shaping
Giving something its form
- fixingRestoring proper function
- preparingMaking ready beforehand
- trainingDeveloping abilities through practice
readying · perfecting · polishing · improving · conditioning · refining
- eatingchewing, biting, swallowing, nibbling, munching
- animal behavioranimal behavior, instincts, learned behavior, conditioning, social behavior
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- animal parentingnursing, weaning, feeding, bonding, teaching
- mouth actionsbite, biting, chewing, chew, swallowing
- pet behaviortail wagging, purring, kneading, growling, hissing
- take a lickingEndure harsh treatment
- licking one's lipsTongue moistening mouth edges
- licking lips
- licking cleanRemoving all residue orally
- lip lickingTongue across mouth edge
- licking into shapeImproving through persistent work