Cool MateLick vs Sample vs Touch
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Lick
Top 2,000 (common)
Sample
Top 1,000 (very common)B1noun
Touch
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
| Lick | Sample | Touch | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lɪk//🇺🇸 //lɪk// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɑːmpl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsæmpl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/tʌtʃ/","/ˈtʌtʃɪz/","/tʌtʃt/","/ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʌtʃ/","/ˈtʌtʃɪz/","/tʌtʃt/","/ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To touch or move something with your tongue. | A small part of something used to show what the whole is like. | To make physical contact with something. |
| Example | The child began to lick the ice cream quickly. | He provided a sample of the product for us to test. | Please do not touch the artwork in the gallery. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb | |
| Collocations | lick the spoon, lick someone's face, lick clean, lick the envelope | large, small, total, draw, select, comprise something, consist of something, size, survey, group, sample from, sample of, blood, faecal/fecal, serum, collect, obtain, take, contain, show, sample of, free, book, sample of | (not) actually, not even, not quite, want to, (not) dare (to), reach out, over, up, etc. to, on, with, (be) careful not to touch something, close enough to touch somebody/something, deeply |
| Antonyms | leave, dry | whole, entirety | ignore, avoid, detach |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'like' in pronunciation, Using 'lick' as a noun only, Incorrect tense usage (e.g., 'licked' instead of 'lick') | Confusing 'sample' with 'exemplar' - they have different meanings., Using 'sampled' incorrectly as a verb form in past tense., Mixing up 'sample' as a noun and a verb. | Confusing 'touch' with 'feel' in different contexts., Using 'touch' when describing emotional effects (e.g., 'That touched me') without context., Incorrectly conjugating 'touch' in past tense. |
| Usage notes | Often used in both literal and figurative contexts. In informal settings, it might refer to doing something quickly. | Used in scientific, business, and educational contexts when referring to testing or showing examples. Avoid in casual conversations unless discussing products or experiences. | Use 'touch' when referring to making contact with someone or something. Avoid in formal settings when discussing relationships; instead, consider 'influence' or 'affect'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Lick vs Sample vs Touch
What's the difference between Lick, Sample, and Touch?
Lick: To touch or move something with your tongue. Sample: A small part of something used to show what the whole is like. Touch: To make physical contact with something.
Which is more advanced: Lick, Sample, and Touch?
Sample is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Lick: The child began to lick the ice cream quickly. Sample: He provided a sample of the product for us to test. Touch: Please do not touch the artwork in the gallery.
Can I use Lick, Sample, and Touch interchangeably?
Not always. Lick, Sample, and Touch are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.