What is the meaning of licking?

noun

• An unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest.
  • usage: "it was a narrow defeat"; "the army's only defeat"; "they suffered a convincing licking"
  • synonyms: defeat
• The act of inflicting corporal punishment with repeated blows.
  • synonyms: beating, thrashing, drubbing, lacing, trouncing, whacking

verb

• Beat thoroughly and conclusively in a competition or fight.
  • usage: "We licked the other team on Sunday"
  • synonyms: cream, bat, clobber, drub, thrash, lick
• Pass the tongue over.
  • usage: "the dog licked her hand"
  • synonyms: lick, lap
• Find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of.
  • usage: "did you solve the problem"; "Work out your problems with the boss"; "this unpleasant situation isn't going to work itself out"; "did you get it"; "Did you get my meaning"; "He could not work the math problem"
  • synonyms: solve, work out, figure out, puzzle out, lick, work
• Take up with the tongue.
  • usage: "The cat lapped up the milk"; "the cub licked the milk from its mother's breast"
  • synonyms: lap, lap up, lick