suck

[ suhk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to draw into the mouth by producing a partial vacuum by action of the lips and tongue:

   to suck lemonade through a straw.

2. to draw (water, moisture, air, etc.) by or as if by suction:

   Plants suck moisture from the earth. The pump sucked water from the basement.

3. to apply the lips or mouth to and draw upon by producing a partial vacuum, especially for extracting fluid contents:

   to suck an orange.

4. to put into the mouth and draw upon:

   to suck one's thumb.

5. to take into the mouth and dissolve by the action of the tongue, saliva, etc.:

   to suck a piece of candy.

6. to render or bring to a specified condition by or as if by sucking.
7. Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio on (sometimes followed by off ).

verb (used without object)

1. to draw something in by producing a partial vacuum in the mouth, especially to draw milk from the breast.
2. to draw or be drawn by or as if by suction.
3. (of a pump) to draw air instead of water, as when the water is low or a valve is defective.
4. Slang. to be repellent or unpleasant:

   Poverty sucks.

5. Slang. to be inferior, as in quality or execution; be poor:

   Everyone says the show sucks. She sucks at tennis.

6. Slang. to behave in a fawning manner (usually followed by around ).

noun

1. an act or instance of sucking.
2. a sucking force.
3. the sound produced by sucking.
4. that which is sucked; nourishment drawn from the breast.
5. a small drink; sip.
6. a whirlpool.

verb phrase

1. Slang. to deceive; cheat; defraud:

   The confidence man sucked us all in.

2. Slang. to be obsequious; toady:

   The workers are all sucking up to him because he's the one who decides who'll get the bonuses.

suck

/ sʌk /

verb

1. to draw (a liquid or other substance) into the mouth by creating a partial vacuum in the mouth
2. to draw in (fluid, etc) by or as if by a similar action

   plants suck moisture from the soil

3. to drink milk from (a mother's breast); suckle
4. tr to extract fluid content from (a solid food)

   to suck a lemon

5. tr to take into the mouth and moisten, dissolve, or roll around with the tongue

   to suck one's thumb

6. tr; often foll by down, in, etc to draw by using irresistible force

   the whirlpool sucked him down

7. intr (of a pump) to draw in air because of a low supply level or leaking valves, pipes, etc
8. tr to assimilate or acquire (knowledge, comfort, etc)
9. slang.
   intr to be contemptible or disgusting
10. sucking diesel informal.
    doing very well; successful
11. suck it and see informal.
    to try something to find out what it is, what it is like, or how it works

noun

1. the act or an instance of sucking
2. something that is sucked, esp milk from the mother's breast
3. give suck to
   to give (a baby or young animal) milk from the breast or udder
4. an attracting or sucking force

   the suck of the whirlpool was very strong

5. a sound caused by sucking

Derived Forms

• ˈsuckless, adjective

Other Words From

• suckless adjective
• outsuck verb (used with object)
• un·sucked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suck¹

First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English souken, Old English sūcan, cognate with Latin sūgere; (noun) Middle English souke “act of suckling,” derivative of the noun; akin to soak

Word History and Origins

Origin of suck¹

Old English sūcan; related to Old Norse súga, Middle Dutch sūgen, Latin sūgere to suck, exhaust; see soak

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. suck face, to engage in soul-kissing.

Example Sentences

According to Anolik, Didion wanted to be famous while Babitz wanted to suck the marrow out of life.

From Los Angeles Times

“Trump loves to see people scramble and suck up.”

From BBC

“And actually I hope that’s the case because it would suck if she had or still has cancer at such a young age.”

From Los Angeles Times

Godfather II was OK, but most other sequels suck.

From Salon

There's even ways for progressive men to participate in the "suck it up" program.

From Salon

Related Words

• absorb
• drink
• inhale