suck

I. verb Etymology: Middle English suken, from Old English sūcan; akin to Old High German sūgan to suck, Latin sugere Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. a. to draw (as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue <

sucked milk from his mother's breast

> b. to draw something from or consume by such movements <

suck an orange

> <

suck a lollipop

> c. to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid <

sucked his burned finger

> 2. a. to draw by or as if by suction <

when a receding wave sucks the sand from under your feet — Kenneth Brower

> <

inadvertently sucked into the…intrigue — Martin Levin

> b. to take in and consume by or as if by suction <

a vacuum cleaner sucking up dirt

> <

suck up a few beers

> <

opponents say that malls suck the life out of downtown areas — Michael Knight

> intransitive verb 1. to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force; especially to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth 2. to make a sound or motion associated with or caused by suction <

his pipe sucked wetly

> <

flanks sucked in and out, the long nose resting on his paws — Virginia Woolf

> 3. to act in an obsequious manner <

when they want votes…the candidates come sucking around — W. G. Hardy

> — usually used with up <

sucked up to the boss

> 4. slang to be objectionable or inadequate <

our lifestyle sucks — Playboy

> <

people who went said it sucked — H. S. Thompson

> II. noun Date: 13th century 1. a sucking movement or force 2. the act of sucking